Best for job growth

Towns include:  Fruit Cove, Palm Valley, Ponte Vedra
Job growth (2000-2007): 35.92%

As vacationers and retirees head to its 40 miles of scenic beaches, St. Johns County is seeing an expanding tourism industry and steady economic growth. While the county has a strong community of farmers growing vegetables and raising livestock, the area also supports small but growing local financial and information services companies.

It's working on attracting developing businesses including aviation and automotive companies, as well as industrial, food and medical product developers to settle in the area. --A.C.

NEXT: Will County, IL