Round Rock area among safest, most prosperous according to annual rankings

Fishers, Ind., was the safest city in the nation with a population more than 75,000, according to the rankings, while Irvine, Calif., topped the list for those with more than 100,000.

Meanwhile, Flint, Mich., was the lowest ranked city on the list.

Economic index

The Austin-Round Rock metro area fared well in an economic growth study released Dec. 19, placing fourth on an annual list of the best-performing large metro areas.

The Milken Institute Best-Performing Cities Index "ranks U.S. metropolitan areas by how well they are creating and sustaining jobs and economic growth," according to the study.

Austin-Round Rock dipped slightly from the 2010 rankings, in which it was ranked second, behind only Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Texas.

The top five on the list was dominated by Texas areas, and Central Texas metro regions specifically. San Antonio and El Paso were first and second, respectively, and Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood was fifth. Fort Collins-Loveland, Colo., was third.

The Miliken Institute measured job, wage and salary, and technology growth, according to the study, in order to compile the rankings, which split into two lists of large and small metro areas.