1. Dallas — As Texas is the largest state exporter of manufactured goods in the U.S., it has strong logistics and distribution, corporate services, and IT capabilities. "Moreover, Dallas is particularly poised to profit from the trend with several high-profile companies — like Siemens, Ballard Power Systems and GlobiTech — joining local chip giant Texas Instruments in expanding their production capabilities in the metro."

2. Chicago — The region has a "huge inventory of industrial manufacturing space as well as the infrastructure and talent to keep them running" and "the second-largest workforce employed in production occupations with almost 287,000 such jobs in the metro."

3. Phoenix — There is a lot of room, critical to build semiconductor facilities. There are already three fabrication plants under construction for Taiwan Semiconductor Company (TSMC). Intel is also expanding its facilities in the area. "As a result, Phoenix stands to become one of the foremost chip manufacturing hubs in the entire country."

4. Detroit — The city has long experience as a manufacturing hub, with "the second-largest manufacturing space inventory at 192.2 million square feet, representing more than half of the metro's total industrial space," although much of it needs renovation.

5. Los Angeles — Although shorter on greenfield space than other locations on the list, it has a "huge array of economic sectors" and a "diverse, well-educated workforce also provide a boon for Southern California manufacturing." It "produces a wide array of goods even as space for new fabrication plants is hard to come by."

6. Cleveland — A strong railroad infrastructure and affordability have already drawn advanced manufacturing companies to the area, along with low rents.

7. New York City — NYC has "one of the most robust manufacturing industries" that are "revving up for reshoring" along with extensive logistical capabilities and "excellent manufacturing business diversity and employment."

8. Austin — The MSA "is currently the second-smallest manufacturing market by current space in the top 20, but it compensates for that by being the centerpiece of manufacturing growth in Central Texas, as well as one of the most active advanced manufacturing centers in the U.S."

9. Houston — A "mix of traditional manufacturing industries — like petrochemicals and fertilizers — supplemented by cutting-edge fields like pharmaceuticals, superconductors and aerospace" with "almost a quarter of manufacturing space located here was built after 2000 — the third-largest share in the top 20 — indicating a larger concentration of companies requiring modern space for their industrial operations."

10. Cincinnati — The city has "good showings in manufacturing space inventory," with a "share of manufacturing out of industrial space and miles of railway in combination with relatively low asking rents for industrial space, thereby painting it as an affordable area with untapped potential."

11. Columbus — The "11th-best U.S. metro area for manufacturing" is "another storied market with great logistics and affordability for companies looking to expand." Also, "2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space was built here between 2019 and 2023 for a 5.3% increase in inventory, making Columbus the fifth-best scorer in the top 20 in those metrics."

12. Elkhart-Goshen — It has the smallest population on the list but also has strong manufacturing in musical instruments, recreational vehicles, and automobile production, with one in four residents working in manufacturing.

13. Scranton — The metro has "the second-newest manufacturing space stock in the top 20 with 26% of its inventory being built after 2000, in conjunction with the best affordability for industrial space on the list." The manufacturing sector there has expanded 7.3% in the last five years.

14. Grand Rapids — More than half of the industrial space here is manufacturing space. It also has the "fifth more affordable manufacturing workforce in the top 20." There are also "above-average showings in manufacturing space growth and average asking rents for industrial space."

15. Greenville — What brought Greenville into the top 20 is "a conjunction of affordable labor costs, fast-growing manufacturing space inventory and modern manufacturing facilities" and "median wages for production occupations in the metro are the fourth-lowest in the top 20."

16. Philadelphia — There are "2.5 million square feet of manufacturing space under construction," which is the "fifth-largest expansion nationwide." Its transportation network is also well-developed. Pennsylvania also has programs to support advanced manufacturing in the state.

17. Milwaukee — Out of its 158-million-square-foot industrial space inventory, 45.8% is manufacturing. It may not have a high percentage of currently state-of-the-art facilities, but the properties are very affordable, which can make up for it.

18. Akron — There is a "familiar mix of availability of manufacturing space and affordability, together with good scores in other categories." About 50.6% of the industrial inventory is manufacturing. "A large number of Fortune 500 companies operate factories in the city, proving that manufacturing is here to stay even as Akron makes strides in modernizing its identity and economy."

19. Atlanta — The region has immense logistical capabilities, which is why so many large logistics companies have major facilities here. It has "the third most affordable manufacturing workforce in the entire top 20, as well as great highway infrastructure and ample manufacturing space under construction."

20. Minneapolis — Manufacturing space has seen steady 2.2% growth and according to Bureau of Labor Statistics, "more than 127,000 of the metro's residents work in manufacturing across 4,900 establishments, indicating both a healthy industrial output even as Minneapolis enjoys the fruits of its economic diversification efforts."