ATLANTA, Georgia
Population: 456,002
Unemployment: 6.0 percent
Sales Tax: 8.0 percent
Little wonder that when GE CEO Jeffrey Immelt recently said his company may look to relocate to a city with a “pro-business environment,” Atlanta was immediately mentioned. Home to a bevy of heavyweights (Coca-Cola, Home Depot, Delta Airlines), Atlanta is the unquestioned business and transportation hub of the Southeast. “Hotlanta” boasts smart people—local universities include Emory and Georgia Tech—diverse culture, solid job growth (3.7 percent) and residents who enjoy a cost of living 2 percent lower than the national average.