Survey of 380 metropolitan statistical areas ranks Greensboro's region at or near the bottom in many ways.

•Our 9.6 percent unemployment rate in December 2012 puts us at 346 on the list. [out of 380]

•The number of young workers with a bachelor’s degree or more puts us at 313. [out of 380]

•The region’s “economic strength indicators” — which combine a variety of statistics — rank at 103.

Earnings: 228 [out of 380]

•And then there’s the overall ranking: 245.

The Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill region hits the chart at No. 58.

Raleigh-Cary ranks 159.

Barron