College Station-Bryan is ranked No. 21 nationally in the
Heartland Institute’s ranking of the country’s
Most Dynamic Metropolitans, announced on Thursday. The College Station-Bryan metro ranks No. 4 in the 20 central states the think tank defines as America’s “heartland.”
The list presents an economic snapshot of how 380 metropolitan statistical areas performed in 2024 based on employment growth, average annual pay, real GDP, entrepreneurial activity, and educational attainment. The report highlights national trends and showcases regions with policies that foster thriving communities.
Key findings:
• AI Investment and Productivity: Major tech hubs such as Silicon Valley and Austin invest heavily in generative artificial intelligence, boosting productivity by optimizing operations, automating processes, and streamlining decision-making.
• Advanced Manufacturing Innovation: Agriculture and semiconductors are being transformed by innovations in advanced manufacturing, with regions such as Boise, Idaho, and Sherman-Denison, Texas, at the forefront.
• Post-Pandemic Tourism and Recreation Growth: Real estate development in places such as Bozeman and Helena, Montana, is spurred by the post-pandemic growth in tourism and outdoor recreation, transforming smaller micropolitan areas into thriving metropolitan hubs.
• Oil, Gas, and Alternative Energy: Many metros, including top-ranked Midland, Texas, have benefited from increased demand for oil and gas extraction, while lithium and alternative energy sources also contributed to economic growth.
Six of the top 10 heartland metropolitans are home to universities – Texas A&M, Texas, Auburn, Alabama-Huntsville, Arkansas, and Vanderbilt – that foster research, innovation, and workforce development, positioning their metros for long-term success in emerging industries.
Heartland Forward is a policy think-and-do tank dedicated to being a resource for states and local communities in the middle of the country. It studies broad economic trends and builds data-driven and community-tested partnerships, programs, and policies to address the needs of the heartland.