Nationally, home prices are falling, unemployment is on the rise and the economy is expected to grow slowly--or even contract--in the first half of the year.

But some cities are doing just fine.

Out of the top 10, Raleigh (#5) and Charlotte (#9) are two of the top 10 recession-proof cities in America.

The others holding steady or improving include Oklahoma City, Okla.;  San Antonio; Austin, Texas; Houston; Dallas; San Jose, Calif.; Salt Lake City; and Seattle.

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5. Raleigh, N.C.

Median home price: +4%

Unemployment: 4.2% (from 3.7%)

Key growth: Professional and business Services, +7.4%; education and health, +6%

Stable home prices and growth across the different sectors of its economy have kept Raleigh strong. In the last 12 months, all industries measured by the U.S. Department of Labor have grown except for the city's small information sector.

 

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9. Charlotte, N.C.

Median home price: +3.3%

Unemployment: 5.4% (from 4.7%)

Key growth: Professional and business services, +4.7%; leisure and hospitality, +4.2%

Despite a recent rise in unemployment, the economy in Charlotte and the nearby surrounding region of Gastonia and Concord has been strong. Home prices have shown healthy growth, and broad classes of industries like professional and business services, leisure and hospitality, transportation, education, and health are expected to float the local economy this year.