Raleigh, N.C. — Inc. magazine gives high marks to the Raleigh-Cary metro area as a place to do business.

Raleigh and Cary takn together vaulted 42 spots to 50th among the nearly 400 metropolitan areas rated by the magazine, which puts an emphasis on entrepreneurs and emerging businesses. Among large cities alone, Raleigh ranked seventh this year, up from 13th in 2006.

Las Vegas kept its ranking as the top large city.

The magazine rated cities based on an index of several factors, including job growth.

Raleigh generated a 4.5 percent increase in non-farm jobs in 2005-2006 and has grown its non-farm jobs base 12.3 percent since 2001, according to the magazine.

Durham, meanwhile, climbed 34 spots to rank 185th in the overall metro rankings.

Several other N.C. cities also improved their rankings. Wilmington rose 31 spots to 55th. Jacksonville jumped 31 spots to 100th, and Asheville vaulted 65 spots to 121st.

Cities losing ground included: Charlotte, dipping 58 spots to 149th; Greenville down 32 to 217; Winston-Salem off 82 to 224; Greensboro-High Point down 113 to 355; Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton off 62 to 380; and Goldsboro down 47 to 386.