Population: 369,800
Three bases and the Air Force Academy inject $2.6 billion into the local economy each year. Intel and HP are large employers.

Did you know? Penned in Colorado Springs, "America the Beautiful" was inspired by nearby Pikes Peak.



Population: 690,300

It claims to have more music venues and restaurants per capita than any other U.S. city and is nicknamed Silicon Hills due to its large number of tech employers.

Did you know? The city's unofficial motto: "Keep Austin weird."



Population: 442,800

Disaffected Californians have turned this Phoenix outskirt -- where the cost of living is half what it is in San Francisco -- into the latest "boomburb."

Did you know? Mesa sits on a, well, mesa 100 feet above neighbor Phoenix.



Population: 341,500

Famous for its proximity to great universities and as an incubator for cutting-edge tech firms, Raleigh has so much green space it's described as a park with a city in it.

Did you know? The city is named after Sir Walter Raleigh.



Population: 1,255,500

The economy of this hot housing market was military- and tourism-dependent until leaders pushed to diversify. Today it's the No. 1 biotech area in the U.S.

Did you know? San Diego's nickname is "America's Finest City."



Population: 438,400

An up-and-coming military town, it is prospering thanks to an influx of tech companies. Homes are affordable here, with most going for just over $200,000.

Did you know? It's got 38 miles of waterfront.
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Population: 414,500

Famous for steaks and Warren Buffett, Omaha also has a booming downtown and riverfront, with more than $2 billion in development.

Did you know? Omaha is home to the Lied Jungle, the world's largest indoor rain forest.



Population: 730,700

Ohio's capital and largest city is also a thriving college town: Ohio State, with over 50,000 students, is the third-biggest university in the U.S.

Did you know? Half of the U.S. population lives within 600 miles of Columbus.



Population: 354,900

With 46,000 aerospace jobs, Wichita is the self-proclaimed "air capital of the world."

Did you know? There are more sunny days in Wichita than in Daytona Beach or Honolulu.



Population: 8,143,200

The Big Apple has the third lowest crime rate among the 25 biggest cities in the U.S.

Did you know? If it were a country, N.Y.C. would have the 17th-highest GDP in the world, ahead of Switzerland.