Most booming metropolitan area overall in the Midwestern United States? (condo, unemployment)

[Trafalgar Law]

Just curious as to what people feel is the most booming major metropolitan area in the entire Midwestern United States. For "major" I suppose you can include everywhere the size of Des Moines CSA (770,000) or Madison CSA (860,000) and larger.

Factors to include (but not limited to);

- Population growth

- Economic growth

- Expansion in infrastructure (airports, roads, public transit trains and systems, bike lanes, trails, so on)

- Elevation of the city's profile nationally or internationally

- Private investment uptick

- Inclusion of more amenities and services

- Ascension in the research and development or ascension in the academic profile of major colleges and/or universities in the metropolitan area

If you can think of anything else that defines a booming city, then feel free to consider it and add it. I don't care, the criteria is just there to get you to start thinking about what is booming and what is not, but the discussion is not limited to just the criteria. If there is something you feel that can be added that I missed, by all means, add it in.

So in your opinion (or with facts; whichever one), which Midwestern metropolitan area is booming the most these days?

[NOLA101]

I guess Minneapolis, Columbus and Indianapolis would be the best candidates? None are really booming, but all are outliers in terms of relative population/economic growth.

[Cowboys fan in Houston]

Minneapolis is probably the winner here.

[danny07940]

Should have added a poll but Minneapolis is probably the winner. Who's 2-5 would be interesting, too.

[Ant131531]

Is Minneapolis really booming? Like I know it was doing fairly well for itself a few years ago, but I feel like it's kind of slowed a bit. I mean, it kind of tells you the state of the Midwest when Minneapolis, a remote city in a very cold climate is the most "booming" city. Compare it to the peer city of the Denver and you'll see what booming is.

[NowInWI]

Originally Posted by Ant131531

Is Minneapolis really booming? Like I know it was doing fairly well for itself a few years ago, but I feel like it's kind of slowed a bit. I mean, it kind of tells you the state of the Midwest when Minneapolis, a remote city in a very cold climate is the most "booming" city. Compare it to the peer city of the Denver and you'll see what booming is.

Denver is even more "remote", I believe. Very cold...maybe three months out of the year, the rest is just fine. I've spent a lot of time in Denver, and it's not exactly a tropical climate.

[jdaelectro]

Relative to other midwest metro's, I'd say these

Des moines - seems to be an outlier with population growth, compared to the rest
Columbus
Grand Rapids
Minneapolis
Indianapolis
Madison
Omaha - considered midwest? Idk

[Minnesota Spring]

I would say Des Moines actually as well as Columbus and Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Des Moines seems to be exploding the last decade (by Midwest standards), especially the western suburbs.
Columbus always seems to be growing at a nice clip, especially compared to other Ohio metro areas.
Minneapolis /St. Paul not as much as they were a decade ago when growth was hot an almost out of control for Midwest standards, but it has leveled off and could hopefully improve a little.
I guess Omaha used to be about a decade ago as well, but has slowed down- especially with ConAgra leaving, that's not going to help things. On a side note (I know its smaller than the range for this discussion) but Lincoln has always had nice growth over the decades.
Most "booming" metros in the Midwest seem to have the Capital/University presence theme going on.

[mr roboto]

Fargo is smaller but due to local oil/gas industry is growing quickly. Minneapolis isn't growing as fast but is 'coming into its own' in many ways (new light rail, new stadiums, tons of condo development in older neighborhoods, very low unemployment etc...). Basically separating itself from other mid-sized metros.

[PDF]

Minneapolis. Easy. But Columbus is doing pretty good as well.