This region cracks the top 10 (often at No. 1) on so many lists related to jobs, careers, doing business and such.

So it's almost shocking to see Wake County all the way down at No. 15 of Money Magazine's latest list of "Where the jobs are."

To be fair, it's a bit of a lagging indicator. The list of 25 counties is based on job and population growth 2000-2010, as well as places where unemployment was below the national average.

Rockwell County, Texas, came in at No. 1. Loudoun County, Va., was No. 2, and Williamson County, Texas, was No. 3.

Good test scores, among other features, helped rank Cary among CNN/Money magazine's 2010 Best Places to Live in America list.

Cary ranked No. 23 on the list of 100 places that was released today and will be in the magazine's August issue. The magazine looked at figures such as median family income, job growth, school test scores and crime rates.

One drawback, the magazine noted, is that fast growth has resulted in school overcrowding in Cary.

Money magazine seems to like Cary as it has named the town to its list of best places to live for the third time in four years.

In the new list in Money's August issue, Cary ranks 16th. The only other North Carolina city in the top 100 is Chapel Hill at 65th.

There is an education connection to this post.