Forbes’ newest list of “The Best Places for Business and Careers” ranks Des Moines seventh among U.S. metro areas, just ahead of Austin, Texas. Des Moines ranked 21st in cost of doing business, 49th in education and 70th in job growth at 1.5 percent in 2017. The analysis said the metro area, with a population listed at 647,600, had a gross metro product of $50.6 billion, a median household income of $67,761, and a median home price of $207,000. More than a third, 36.6 percent, of the adult population had a college degree. The cost of living in Des Moines was 7 percent below the national average. Part of that is saving on gas — the average commute is 21 minutes. Austin ranked 148th in cost of doing business. Provo, Utah, No. 9 overall, had the 68th-best cost of living. Tacoma, Wash., was 10th overall. Seattle had the best overall rank, with the 165th-ranked cost of business but the 12th-best education rank and the 34th-best job growth at 2.7 percent.