New York giving you ennui? Had it up to here with Beantown and Brotherly Love? You're not alone. From coast to coast, urban Americans are discovering a new host of metropolitan areas that float their collective boat - or microchip, as the case may be. Powered by 21st century economies and warm weather, these cities are more technologically savvy and ethnically diverse than ever before. And each one has its own unique flavor and style.

To be sure, Gotham and its contemporaries still reign supreme in terms of sheer numbers, but the up-and-coming cities listed below are currently exploding with growth. So if you're looking to relocate and think the Windy City is a bunch of hot air, keep reading and check out the new hot spots on the real estate market.

By the way, these rankings are derived from U.S. census data comparing 1990 city populations to 1998 populations (the most recent numbers available).

1. CITIES 10 - 8

10. DALLAS, TX
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 6.8%

Once run primarily by the rough-n-tough oil industry, modern-day Dallas is very much a city in transition. Since black gold gave way to technology as king of the Dallas dollar, the economy has blown up, employing 5,000 more people this year than last. This shift has drawn an ethnically diverse group of younger residents to the area, chipping away at the Good-Old-Boys-network mentality that once pervaded the city and spurring some cultural diversity in the arts, as well.

Dallas is also safer than it's been in years. With the exception of the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys, violent crime has dropped steadily over the past decade. In other words, you can park your car in a dark alley, but don't go anywhere near Texas Stadium during football season.

The tag on Dallas is that it has killer traffic. While the city is working hard to renovate a growing public transportation system, there's still a herd of cars clogging up the highways - not to mention your lungs.


9. HOUSTON, TX
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 8.0%

Houston is, in a word, large. Sprawling, even. Greater Houston is larger than two Rhode Islands, and the city employs more people than all of Colorado, which makes its rate of growth all the more puzzling.

There is a clear sense that the West dominates a portion of Houston culture and nightlife. Many historic downtown buildings have been renovated and converted to stylized residences, reminiscent of those in a John Wayne flick. The nation's most elaborate rodeo, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, can be found here, and country line dancing is still the rage at many a downtown club.

But Houston is so tremendously metropolitan that the cowboy hats and belt buckles could easily go unnoticed. This is a city that considers tourism a major industry, boasting 46,000 hotel rooms and 10,000 theater seats. However, Shell and Exxon are still the biggest employers - stark reminders that oil continues to reign supreme.


8. JACKSONVILLE, FL
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 9.2%

Jacksonville is the fastest growing city in Florida, yet unlike its neighbors in southern Florida, the city's immigrants are predominantly under 65. Indeed, the median age in Jacksonville is 35-downright juvenile for the retirement-friendly Sunshine State.

The city plays host to a thriving talent community, supported in no small part by students attending nearby schools dedicated to the practical and performing arts. There are also several local artist guilds.

The job market in Jacksonville is continuing to blossom. Several companies keep their corporate headquarters in the downtown business district (including Winn Dixie, Inc.). The Navy also maintains two stations in the area, which employ a combined 30,000 "Jack-civilians." But the industry that's really taken city by storm is telecommunications.

2. CITIES 7 - 5

7. SAN DIEGO, CA
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 9.9%

During San Diego's so-called "rainy season," the city experiences a deluge of roughly 1.5 inches of precipitation per month. The Santa Ana winds, which come from the mountains to the east, ensure that the temperature floats just above 90 in October, making non-rollerblading weather less common than the lunar eclipse. If the sun gods smile on any town in the country, they are beaming at San Diego.

The city has been a model of ethnic variety for several years. Roughly one quarter of the population there is Hispanic, and ten percent is from the Pacific Islands, yet hate crimes are rarer than overcast days.

Since the decline of an economy firmly routed in defense spending, San Diego has diversified financially. Like Jacksonville, the telecommunications business has set up shop here, led by the cellular phone juggernaut Qualcomm. The industry contributes about $5 billion each year to the local economy.


6. SAN JOSE, CA

Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 10.1%

Fortune magazine ranked San Jose the number one city for business in the nation, and as the self-proclaimed "Capital of Silicon Valley," it's pretty easy to see why: Hardware is king in northern California's largest city.

San Jose is also an environmentally conscious city in its own right, especially considering its heavy contribution to industry. The Bay Area's "Spare the Air" campaign implores citizens to carpool to help reduce smog, and several local statutes make water pollution a cardinal sin. This is a community of residents who churn out microchips like nobody's business but nonetheless appreciate the value of local vineyards and harvest festivals.

The only real trick to living in San Jose is finding an affordable home. The average house is valued at well over $200,000. But, then again, that should be par for the course in a community with an annual household income of just over $75,000. Did we mention there's money there?


5. SAN ANTONIO, TX
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 14.1%

Perhaps no other city in America can claim to have cleaned up its act to the extent that San Antonio has done so over the past 10 years. The city has seen roughly a 50% decrease in major crimes and homicides since 1990. Putting more cops on the street has gone a long way toward making San Antonio a safer community.

Several local environmental initiatives have also made San Antonio cleaner than other cities with comparable growth rates. Four gasoline companies have agreed to sell fuel containing fewer pollutants than conventional petroleum, and the city's Neighborhood Sweep Program targets potholes and graffiti. This is, by all accounts, a very green town.

The lush River Walk, though ranking high on the tourist scale, is a significant cultural hub with eclectic shops and restaurants. The Walk also houses the International Center, a major forum for Mexican-American business and politics. This begs the question: Are residents put off by the fact that, around the corner from their NAFTA-enabled businesses, high school kids are hocking T-shirts that demand tourists to remember the Alamo?

3. CITIES 4 - 2

4. AUSTIN, TX
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 17.0%

A haven for high-end techies and the setting for the e-workplace film satire Office Space, Austin used to reek of burnt silicon and take-out Chinese. But a generous market and massive influx of disposable income have triggered something of a cultural resurgence in this once-flat capital city. Austin has been sponsoring a host of cultural programs, including a Shakespeare Festival and a campaign to set up art displays in public places. The Austin school system also easily rivals those of its Texan neighbors, a strong draw for yuppie programmers to stay in the area and start a family.

When Intel opens the doors of its new 500,000-square-foot office space in 2002, expect other hi-tech giants to follow suit. Land is cheap in Austin, which means that, for better or for worse, growth is inevitable.


3. EL PASO, TX
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 19.3%

Straddling Texas, New Mexico and the U.S.-Mexican border, El Paso is a true border town. The people are young, ethnically diverse, and - not surprisingly - bilingual. And while the average citizen's income hovers just below $40,000, the cost of living has been declining steadily since 1993, despite a booming population.

Not unlike its citizens, the architectural El Paso has the look of a prototypical melting pot, blending 19th century pastoral with 21st century chic. At the crux of the city's revitalization efforts is the Union Plaza district, a rundown commercial center en route to a shopping-mall-esque makeover, complete with a 414-space parking garage. Is it any wonder that someone named a brand of microwave-able burritos after this place?


2. CHARLOTTE, NC
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 20.3%

The hardest adjustment to make when moving to Charlotte is realizing that, despite hosting some of NASCAR's biggest races, life moves slowly there. Very slowly. Polite chit-chat in doing business is a must, and a 45-minute commute to the office is about average.

But let there be no mistakes: Regardless of the pace, Charlotte is bursting with big business. Take a look at the numbers (courtesy of The Charlotte Observer): #3 in cell phone permanence, #5 in business trips, and #2 in big banking.

Conscious of its strong Southern identity, Charlotte is a conservative city that is sweet on traditions. Northerners are still "Yanks," grits are still the breakfast food of choice, and Jesse Helms is still elected to public office.

4. THE MOST POPULAR CITY TO MOVE TO

1. PHOENIX, AZ
Percent increase, 1990 - 1998: 21.3%

Very quietly, Phoenix has grown to become the nation's sixth largest metropolis. Set squarely in the middle of nowhere, the city has not kicked up much dust in becoming the Southwest's premier destination for commerce, industry, and entertainment.

Just how quickly is Phoenix growing? 82,000 people moved in during 1998, just as 95,000 new jobs opened up. Major companies like Motorola, Honeywell and Boeing all have key offices in or around the greater Phoenix area, and small business is booming there, as well. As is the trend, 46% of all manufacturing jobs in the area are considered "high-tech."

A vibrant and well-integrated Native American community sets Phoenix apart from its fast-growing peers. Pueblo culture has a strong influence on local art, and the Heard Museum - which holds an impressive collection of Indian pottery and crafts - is the area's cultural cornerstone. It's joined by the rustic, unassuming Symphony Hall downtown, which plays host to both the Phoenix Symphony and the Arizona Opera.