When you think of \u201ccutting-edge technology,\u201d what comes to mind? Some might imagine lasers, holograms, cryptocurrency and the metaverse. Others might think of the ability to control devices and services with our minds \u2014 or at least our voices. For example, if it\u2019s too warm in the house, command your virtual assistant to turn on the A\/C. Or, if you find the only parking spot for blocks, but it\u2019s a really tight squeeze, just use your automatic parking assist to fit in perfectly.<\/p>\n
These functions are nice, and they do save us time and reduce stress. However, these advancements are still relatively small in scale \u2014 affecting only the world that is immediately around us. We\u2019re constantly seeing ads for cutting-edge gadgets and cars. But what if we thought really big? What does a cutting-edge metro \u2014 or an entire metro area \u2014 look like?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m so glad you asked.<\/p>\n
To find out, we first identified the relevant variables. Next, we compiled the data, sifted it, cleaned it and weighted it to identify the metros that are on the cutting edge of city development. Then, we analyzed how electric-vehicle (EV) friendly the cities were; how many bikesharing stations they had; how focused on technology and green technology their economy was; and how fast their internet was. Notably, all the metros included in the study were analyzed on a per capita basis, therefore placing them on equal footing regardless of size or prominence.<\/p>\n
Read on to see the top 30 most cutting-edge metros in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Boulder Joins Silicon Valley & San Francisco as Most Cutting-Edge Metros in Nation<\/h2>\n
Some of the metros you would expect to lead the way in smart technology adoption did make the list \u2014 like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Miami and Austin, Texas. But there are also some less-talked-about metros that are also getting rapidly smarter.<\/p>\n
![\"Boulder](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/01-Boulder.jpg\")
First up is Boulder, Colo., which topped our list of the smartest metros in the U.S. This metro stood out for having the most EV charging stations per capita on our list with nearly 90 chargers per 100,000 residents. That\u2019s a total of more than 300 charging stations for Boulder\u2019s 327,000 residents. What\u2019s more, nearly 93% of households here had broadband access \u2014 second only to Silicon Valley \u2014 and more than 16% of jobs in Boulder were in the tech and green tech industries. And as the pandemic wanes and workers return to the office, coworking space in Boulder<\/a> is also a great alternative for entrepreneurs and solopreneurs.<\/p>\n![\"Silicon](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/02-Silicon-Valley.jpg\")
Silicon Valley took the second spot on our list. The Bay Area has been the mecca of technology companies, venture capital and blistering innovation for the better part of a century. As such, it\u2019s no surprise that this metro was one of the smartest in the nation. Specifically, more than 12% of apartment units in Silicon Valley had dedicated EV charging stations and, to no one\u2019s surprise, 21% of jobs in Silicon Valley were in tech and green tech \u2014 the highest proportion in the nation.<\/p>\n![\"Washington](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/03-Washington.jpg\")
On the other side of the country and as the center of government in the U.S., Washington, D.C. is a natural draw for tech-forward individuals and companies alike. It came in at #3 on our list \u2014 and it\u2019s getting smarter: Amazon\u2019s new HQ2 is currently under development in Arlington, Va. and there are also nearly 100 coworking spaces in Washington, D.C.<\/a> for the entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and freelancers alike.<\/p>\n![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/04-San-Francisco.jpg\")
San Francisco landed in fourth place on our list. Adjacent to Silicon Valley, this metro also benefits from the immense technological innovation happening nearby. And, although San Francisco<\/a> doesn\u2019t lead in any of our categories, it does score well across several of them. Plus, its eclectic atmosphere and global appeal make San Francisco as cutting edge as just about any other metro in the U.S.<\/p>\n![\"Austin](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/05-Austin.jpg\")
Rounding out the top five smartest metros in the U.S. was none other than Austin, Texas. No other metro in the last few years has received more attention for attracting tech companies, workers and entrepreneurs than Austin \u2014 and why wouldn\u2019t it? The metro ranks high for start-ups, internet accessibility and, of course, tech jobs. Not to mention that the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, even relocated to Austin recently. And as offices open up, those looking for offices as eclectic as the city itself can choose from nearly 60 different coworking spaces in Austin<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Seattle](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/06-Seattle.jpg\")
Meanwhile, in the Northwest, Seattle<\/a> scored well with jobs in tech and green tech \u2014 bringing it in at #6 on our list of most cutting-edge cities in the U.S. In fact, the Emerald City has been known for tech innovation for decades: Both Amazon and Microsoft began here. And, while their proliferation is part of the reason for the metro\u2019s growth, the environment they flourished in is also nurturing countless other forward-looking policies and technologies.<\/p>\n![\"Denver](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/07-Denver.jpg\")
The red-hot startup hub of Denver enters our list at #7. According to TechCrunch, Denver-based startups have raised record levels of venture funding \u2014 approaching $1 billion in 2019 and nearly doubling each year since then. Top-notch universities, exceptional recreation, and a cost of living that\u2019s relatively lower than the coasts make this city an attractive location for tech companies and their employees, both in traditional office settings, working remotely, and coworking in Denver<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"Boston](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/08-Boston.jpg\")
Boston<\/a> (#8) is famous for its universities that educate top talent from all over the world. And it\u2019s arguably been on the cutting edge for many years, which is admirable given that it\u2019s one of the oldest cities in the country. Of course, top talent working on cutting-edge research projects is a surefire recipe that leads the metro to the forefront of innovation.<\/p>\n![\"Portland](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/09-Portland.jpg\")
One of the most famous cities for progressive policymaking and thinking comes in at #9: Portland, Ore. Portland<\/a> scored high on our list partly because of the ubiquity and quality of internet access and speed here. But the forward-looking metro also fosters the type of creativity and ambition to try new things \u2014 both of which are certainly qualities that make it cutting edge.<\/p>\n![\"Salt](\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/01\/10-Salt-Lake-City.jpg\")
As tech companies began leaving Silicon Valley, Salt Lake City<\/a> (#10) became a popular destination, with new headquarters here for companies like Cisco, Oracle and Adobe. Startups are also a huge draw for highly educated and ambitious individuals looking to change the world, similar to Denver.<\/p>\nMiami Has the Fastest Internet, Fostering Blockchain Technology<\/h2>\n