Report: Brownsville-Harlingen MSA named No. 1 Metro Location for 2024

BROWNSVILLE, Texas – Brownsville-Harlingen MSA has been named the No. 1 Metro in Area Development’s 2024 Leading Metro Locations Report.

Area Development gives most of the credit to SpaceX, both for investment in infrastructure and job creation. It describes Brownsville-Harlingen as “an emerging hotspot.”

The report, compiled with data from Chmura Economics & Analytics, is titled: 2024’s Leading Metro Locations: U.S. Cities on the Rise Amid an Economic Reshuffling. The magazine says its study reveals shifting dynamics in America’s cities.

“America’s metropolitan areas are resilient, and adaptable, but the economic power of the United States has been shifting to some new and surprising cities,” the report starts off.

The magazine says the report “provides an in-depth look at which cities are thriving, which regions are gaining ground, and what key factors are driving growth in today’s economic landscape.” It says the report is weighted to give special emphasis on factors like prime workforce availability, economic strength, and affordability.

“This year’s report offers helpful insights for corporate site selectors, businesses looking to expand, and economic development professionals nationwide,” Area Development states.

Brownsville-Harlingen Metropolitan Statistical Area

In its focus on the overall top metro performers, the report says there was steady growth but also some rising stars.


“Unsurprisingly, some of the most familiar cities remain at the top of the list, but the 2024 rankings also reveal several emerging hotspots that are gaining ground in the ever-competitive world of economic development.

“Leading the overall rankings, Brownsville-Harlingen, TX, takes the top spot, reflecting the growing economic significance of the Southwest, particularly thanks to the SpaceX effect. The company’s operations in nearby Boca Chica have transformed Brownsville into a high-tech manufacturing hub, with SpaceX investing more than $3 billion in infrastructure and driving job growth across the region. 

“With over 21,000 indirect jobs supported and a growing focus on advanced manufacturing, Brownsville exemplifies how strategic investments in key industries can propel smaller metros to national prominence.”

Patrick Clapp, a senior economist at Chmura Economics, provides specific commentary on the impact of SpaceX.

“The number of SpaceX jobs has helped Brownsville stand out in the research—job ads are a leading indicator of future employment, and SpaceX accounts for more than 12% of total job STEM job ads in the metro area,” Clapp said. 

Clapp points out that the Starbase complex in Boca Chica, the sole private facility for SpaceX, is focused on commercial launches. “The additional regional spending from high-wage jobs generates ripple impacts that support additional growth in the area,” Clapp adds.

Area Development’s masthead.

Methodology Area Development used for its 2024’s Leading Metro Locations 

Area Development ranked 410 MSAs and metropolitan divisions across 24 economic and workforce indicators pulled from eight (8) data sets — each set containing a five-year change, a three-year change, and a one-year change indicator — originating from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Census, and JobsEQ® by Chmura Economics & Analytics.

Each metro area earned a ranking within each of the 24 indicators based on its statistical performance within that indicator. The metro area with the best performance in a certain indicator earned a ranking score of “1” and the metro area with the worst performance earned a ranking score of “410.”

To calculate “Overall Ranking,” we created a score of total ranking across all indicators for each MSA. The indicators were weighted with five-year change indicators carrying the most weight and the one-year indicators carrying the least weight.

We also calculated overall ranking across two categories: “Prime Workforce” and “Economic Strength.” Within the “Prime Workforce” category we calculated rankings within two sub-categories: “Workforce Readiness” and “Wage and Salary Growth.” Within the “Economic Strength” category we calculated rankings within two sub-categories: “Core Economic Indicators” and “Job Growth Indicators.” To calculate the overall ranking within these two categories, and four sub-categories, we produced a score and average ranking across only certain indicators.

We have also produced a set of lists, using overall ranking, grouping the MSAs by each of the 9 U.S. regions and by size: “Small” (population < 160,000), “Mid-sized” (population 160,000-600,000), and “Big/Giant” (population > 600,000).

Editor’s Note: Click here to read the report in full.

The post Report: Brownsville-Harlingen MSA named No. 1 Metro Location for 2024 appeared first on Rio Grande Guardian.