Abilene, Texas is a city located in west central Texas and which had a population of 117,063 in the 2010 census. Dyess Air Force Base is on the city’s west side, which places the military sector squarely at the center of the city’s economy. The education, healthcare and retail trade industries are also central to the local economic base.

Beaumont, Texas, the seat of Jefferson County, had a population of 118,296 in 2010. It is a growing city in the Beaumont-Port Arthur metro area which sits in the “Golden Triangle”, a major industrial center on the Gulf Coast. The Port of Beaumont is central to commerce in the area, and the education, healthcare, engineering and technology industries also play a major part in the local economy.

Simi Valley, California, located in the Southeastern area of Ventura County, reported a population of about 124,200 in the 2010 U.S. Census. It is a city in which metal working, machinery and tool production operations form the largest industrial sectors, though the financial, education, insurance and retail industries also play a crucial role in the city’s economy.

As the seat of Johnson County and 5th largest city in the state, Olathe, Kansas reported a population in the U.S. Census of 2010 of 125,872. It’s a diverse city and a suburb of Kansas City, MO. Local and state government make up a large portion of employment opportunities in the area. Olathe additionally has several industrial parks housing big businesses in the food distribution, manufacturing and insurance sectors. Olathe is also the location of a major commercial airport which plays a prominent role in the city’s economy.

Coral Springs, Florida, which is located in Broward County just 20 miles northwest of Ft. Lauderdale, is a medium sized city, reporting a population of 121,096 in 2010. Finance, distribution and high tech manufacturing businesses encompass a significant sector of the city’s economic base, though more than half of the city’s population works in management, administrative, sales and office positions.

In the 2010 U.S. census, Hartford, Connecticut had a population of 124,775, though the Hartford-Springfield Metropolitan area reported nearly 1.9 million. The city is the seat of Hartford County and Hartford-Springfield metro area is home to more than 30 colleges and universities making the education sector the largest influence in the region’s economy. Hartford is also a major center in the insurance industry.

The City of Bellevue, located in King County, Washington, just outside Seattle, is a mid-sized city, reporting a population in 2010 of 122,363. Technology firms and computer and software development companies play a huge part in the Bellevue economy, though the finance, manufacturing and distribution industries are also significant in the commercial foundation in the region.

As the seat of government for Linn County and the 2nd largest city in the state, Cedar Rapids, Iowa reported a population in the U.S. Census of 2010 of 126,326. It’s a mid-sized city, with grain processing accounting for the largest employment sector in the region, including food manufacturing and packaging plants. The retail distribution and financial services industries also play a big role in the local economy.

Miramar, Florida, which is located in Broward County just 20 miles north of Miami, is a medium sized city, reporting a population of 122,041 in 2010. Healthcare and insurance businesses make up a significant sector of the city’s economic base, though tourism, particularly the cruise line industry, also plays a dominant role. In 2010, the largest employer of record was the City of Miramar itself, but the manufacturing and telecommunications industries were also influential in the city’s economy.

Gainesville, Florida, as the seat of Alachua County, is a medium-sized city, reporting a population of 125,354 in the 2010 U.S. Census. Education, healthcare and insurance are the primary industries which form the foundation of the city’s economy, though the City of Gainesville also ranks among the top employers in the region, making city and county government a crucial sector of the local job market as well.