{"id":36806,"date":"2023-10-10T14:00:56","date_gmt":"2023-10-10T11:00:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/?p=36806"},"modified":"2025-09-22T09:29:57","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T06:29:57","slug":"best-metros-for-tech-south","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/","title":{"rendered":"From Superstars to Rising Stars, Here Are the South\u2019s Best Metros for Tech"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The tech sector is currently experiencing a decentralization by expanding beyond traditional hubs to include new metropolitan areas across the U.S. with a particular focus on the South. This trend is evident in the recent relocations of major tech companies \u2014 like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Oracle, Tesla, Google and Apple \u2014 to tech powerhouses along the Sun Belt, such as Houston; Austin, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and the Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., metro areas.<\/p>\n<p>So, to better gauge the resources that Southern metros can draw upon to attract and retain\u00a0both tech talent, as well as businesses, we conducted a comprehensive study that looked at nine different metrics. Specifically, we ranked performances across indicators such as the concentration of tech establishments at the metro level, the percentage of tech jobs, the median income of tech workers and a composite life-quality index. Keep reading to discover more about the overall score of each metro, as well as the different performances of entries across each indicator.<\/p>\n<h2>Top 20 Southern Tech Hubs Include Established Leaders &amp; Emerging Contenders<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/dc\/washington\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Washington, D.C.<\/strong> <\/a>emerged as the frontrunner by winning the title of the best metro for tech in the South. More precisely, it earned maximum points for its concentration of tech businesses and tech jobs, surpassing other entries on our list by a significant margin. Here, more than half of the adult population held a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher, which fosters a culture of innovation and growth. This was further supported by the impressive number of tech patents submitted between 2018 and 2022 with contributions from more than 800 organizations.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-lySoG\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100%; max-height: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Top 20 U.S. Tech Metros in South Region\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/lySoG\/4\/\" height=\"809\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Map\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Ranking second in our study, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/tx\/austin\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Austin, Texas,<\/strong><\/a> boasts a vibrant ecosystem of major tech companies, startups and high-paying jobs. From 2017 to 2021, Austin\u2019s tech sector grew 17%, giving it the second-highest density of tech companies among the top 20 entries. Additionally, it ranked in the top five for both the highest percentage increase in tech jobs and the highest ratio of tech employment opportunities. Overall, Austin performed well in eight out of nine metrics, outperforming other Texas metro areas in all metrics except tech patents. It also ranked in the top five for both the highest percentage increase in tech jobs and the highest ratio of tech employment opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Taking the third spot overall, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/al\/huntsville\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Huntsville, Ala.,<\/strong><\/a> excelled in two key areas: First, it was the top-scoring metro in terms of quality of life, offering tech workers a strong job market and affordable living costs. Additionally, Huntsville saw the second-highest increase in tech employment in recent years with 77 out of every 1,000 jobs now in the tech sector. Known as \u201cRocket City\u201d for its significant role in the U.S. space program since the 1950s, Huntsville maintains an innovative spirit that drives its economy. It\u2019s also home to Cummings Research Park \u2014 the second-largest research park in the U.S. and the fourth-largest globally.<\/p>\n<p>Closely trailing behind Huntsville, <strong>the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/nc\/raleigh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Raleigh, N.C., <\/a>metro<\/strong> landed just outside of the top three best Southern metros overall<em>. <\/em>Renowned for its wealth of research institutions \u2014 including its prestigious universities and the Research Triangle Park \u2014 it\u2019s no surprise to find Raleigh ranked so prominently. Although the metro didn\u2019t secure the top spot in any specific metric, it performed admirably as the runner-up in terms of tech job density, boasting 77 tech jobs per 1,000 occupations. Moreover, the metro achieved an impressive top-five ranking for its quality of living, which was underscored by its abundant educational opportunities.<\/p>\n<p>Next,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/md\/baltimore-city\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <strong>Baltimore<\/strong><\/a> made its way into the top five as one of three mid-Atlantic region entries in the top 20. Similar to Raleigh, Baltimore secured its position by consistently performing well across most metrics, rather than excelling in one or two areas. And, with a tech company density of 45 per 1,000 companies, Baltimore\u2019s tech industry cannot be overlooked, especially considering that it\u2019s only two fewer (per 1,000) than Austin\u2019s. Plus, Baltimore also recorded the third-highest tech earnings with median incomes for tech workers in the metro area averaging roughly $104,000. This surpassed Austin\u2019s tech median income, but fell short of neighboring Washington, D.C.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-lrC4B\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100%; max-height: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Top 20 U.S. Tech Metros in South Region - Values\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/lrC4B\/6\/\" height=\"733\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Table\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>However, it wasn\u2019t just the top-ranked entries that impressed with their outstanding performance: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/md\/salisbury\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Salisbury, Md.,<\/strong><\/a> (ninth overall) experienced the highest growth in tech firm density between 2017 and 2021 with an impressive growth rate of 57%. What\u2019s more, Salisbury also had the highest tech wages on the list with median annual earnings for tech professionals in the Maryland metro reaching approximately $112,000.<\/p>\n<p>Shifting focus to other notable results,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/tx\/houston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> <strong>Houston, Texas,<\/strong><\/a> (11th) proved to be a leader in tech innovation in the South. In fact, more than 9,000 tech patents were filed in Houston, surpassing all other metro areas. Likewise, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/ga\/savannah\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Savannah, Ga.,<\/strong><\/a> (13th) witnessed a remarkable 217% increase in tech employment, highlighting its rapid growth in the tech sector. Additionally, <strong>Johnson City, Tenn.,<\/strong> (17th) experienced the highest surge in median tech earnings with salaries increasing by 200% during a five-year period, rising from $30,000 to $90,000.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"background: white;\">D.C. Dominates South With Highest Tech Establishment Density, Outranking Austin<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Washington, D.C. is home to around 13,000 tech companies, giving it a ratio of 82 tech companies per 1,000 firms (double that of any other top-20 metro area). Notably, the region\u2019s success in the tech industry is driven by its focus on key sectors that facilitate collaboration between tech companies and the public sector, thanks to the close proximity to government agencies. For instance, Booz Allen Hamilton \u2014 a well-known technology consulting firm \u2014 actively partners with government agencies, thereby promoting innovation and creating a favorable business environment.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/15005575\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>Furthermore, Austin\u2019s tech industry is booming as major players like Google, Apple, and Amazon solidify their presence and cement Austin\u2019s position as a key player in the industry. Accordingly, with a density of 47.6 tech companies per 1,000 enterprises, Austin boasted the second-highest concentration of tech firms in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Just behind Austin, Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., was the third-highest in tech company density. With a thriving business climate and a range of tax breaks and incentives, it\u2019s a preferred destination for tech businesses. Here, programs like the Research Triangle Park Job Development Investment Grant and the One North Carolina Fund also provide financial assistance and support, making it an attractive choice for establishing or expanding tech operations.<\/p>\n<p>Likewise, Baltimore is actively working to become a major tech hub with a particular focus on AI and biotech. And, with 45 tech businesses per 1,000 firms, the city has established a solid foundation for the tech industry. Namely, <a href=\"https:\/\/thedailyrecord.com\/2023\/08\/24\/greater-baltimore-region-in-running-to-become-federal-tech-hub\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">a recent bid by the Greater Baltimore Committee<\/a> for federal tech hub status aims to provide tech-focused entities in the region with access to $10 billion in funding, further emphasizing artificial intelligence and biotechnology.<\/p>\n<p>Similarly, Huntsville, Ala.\u2019s tech sector continues to gain recognition, especially in the Southern region. With an impressive rank of #5 in tech establishment density and boasting 43.5 tech businesses per 1,000 firms, Huntsville is home to a vibrant and diverse range of tech companies. In particular, notable names like Siemens Digital Industries Software and Dynetics contribute to the city\u2019s dynamic tech ecosystem.<\/p>\n<h2>Salisbury, Md., Sets Bar High With 57.5% Increase to its Tech Sector<\/h2>\n<p>Salisbury, Md., stood out among the top 20 metros on our list with the highest percentage growth rate of tech companies: From 2017 to 2021, the number of tech companies in Salisbury increased by an impressive 58%. In this case, the surge in tech employment reflects a broader trend observed in smaller metros and college towns, where tech jobs have become more concentrated.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-zge99\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100%; max-height: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Tech Establishments Growth South Region\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/zge99\/8\/\" height=\"600\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Scatter Plot\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ranking second on the list was the Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers metro in Arkansas and Missouri with a significant 18% growth rate in tech establishments. This region is known for its thriving ecosystem of tech startups. Additionally, Walmart Labs (the esteemed research and development arm of Walmart) is also located in the area.<\/p>\n<p>At the same time, Austin, Texas, has positioned itself as the third-fastest-growing tech metro on the list, experiencing significant growth in its tech industry. Of course, major Silicon Valley players \u2014 including Tesla and Oracle \u2014 have been attracted to Austin, thereby contributing to a 17% increase in the number of tech companies. This growth also stands in contrast to the declining share of new tech firm startups seen in many other established tech hubs nationwide.<\/p>\n<p>Following closely behind was the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) area in Texas, which has seen a 13% increase in tech firms to solidify its rising star status. Not far behind, the Tampa-St. Petersburg metro in Florida experienced a 12% increase in tech companies with support from organizations like Tampa Bay Wave and the Synapse Summit, which incubate new tech businesses.<\/p>\n<h2>Familiar Metros Lead Tech Job Market, Tech Employment Jumps 217% in Savannah, Ga.<\/h2>\n<p>With nearly 300,000 jobs in the tech industry, Washington, D.C. claimed the highest density of tech jobs among the entries on our list, and this impressive figure translated to a ratio of 89 tech jobs per 1,000 occupations. In this case, the capital\u2019s success is due to its diverse and robust tech ecosystem, including government agencies, startups, research institutions, cybersecurity experts and consulting firms. These entities often collaborate on large-scale, long-term projects, further cementing Washington, D.C.\u2019s reputation as a superstar tech hub.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/14915356\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<div data-src=\"visualisation\/14915356\"><\/div>\n<div data-src=\"visualisation\/14915356\">Highlighting their impressive overall performances, the top five metropolitan statistical areas also ranked among the top five for tech employment opportunities. However, the order slightly changed when considering this specific metric. For example, Raleigh, N.C., secured the second position with a tech job density of 77 out of every 1,000 occupations, surpassing Austin\u2019s 73.5. Following closely in third place was Huntsville, Ala., with a nearly identical ratio of tech job density as Raleigh\u2019s. Lastly, Baltimore completed the top five. Tech professionals here can expect approximately 63 out of every 1,000 job opportunities to be in the tech field.<\/div>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-RGdQp\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Percentage of tech employment growth South region\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/RGdQp\/5\/\" height=\"253\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Range Plot\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>However, the tech job sector in Savannah, Ga., experienced the highest increase of 217% in five years. This impressive growth was supported by initiatives such as the Savannah Economic Development Authority, which provides a cash grant of up to $20,000 for every five high-tech jobs created. Plus, Savannah is home to IBM, OSIsoft and Covenant Technology Group, as well as a startup scene that traditionally has had a specific focus on aeronautics technology.<\/p>\n<p>Securing second place was Huntsville, Ala., which experienced a 53% growth in tech job opportunities from 2017 to 2021. Huntsville\u2019s success as a tech hub can be attributed to collaborative efforts among government, businesses and universities, led by Mayor Thomas M. Battle Jr. Notably, the Huntsville 2025 initiative aims to establish the city as one of the top 10 tech hubs in the U.S.<\/p>\n<p>Three other places also made it to the top five of Southern metros with the fastest-growing tech scenes: Austin, Texas, which saw a 40% growth with 93,000 employees in 2021; Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers in Arkansas and Missouri, which experienced a 39% growth with 12,300 employees in 2021; and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater in Florida, which had a 33% growth with 60,000 employees in 2021.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"background: white;\">Mid-Atlantic Metros Excel With Highest Tech Earnings in South<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Mid-Atlantic region led in terms of median tech salaries with three standout metros. At the top was Salisbury, Md., offering a median salary of approximately $121,000 per year. This was also complemented by the area\u2019s low cost of living, further enhancing employees\u2019 purchasing power.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/14915618\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>Following closely behind were Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, ranking second and third, respectively, with average salaries of around $110,000 and $104,000. Notably, there\u2019s a $6,000 difference between these two metros.<\/p>\n<p>In the same way, Huntsville, Ala., and Austin, Texas, also offered competitive salaries to tech professionals. Huntsville provided a median salary of $102,500, while Austin maintained its position among the top metros with median earnings of $101,722. Additionally, Palm Bay, Fla., and Raleigh, N.C., were also among the metro areas surpassing the $100,000 mark in terms of median tech salaries.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-pLbL8\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Median Tech Earnings Growth South Region\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/pLbL8\/3\/\" height=\"193\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Arrow Plot\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>Yet, when examining the increase in median tech salaries from 2017 to 2021, the college town of Johnson City in Tennessee experienced the highest growth: It skyrocketed by an impressive 200%, going from around $30,000 to $90,000. Notably, Johnson City complemented this earnings growth with the best regional price parity among the top 20 entries.<\/p>\n<p>Not to be outdone, Salisbury, Md., and Savannah, Ga., also saw significant increases in median tech earnings, ranking second and third with 81% and 71% growth, respectively. Specifically, median tech earnings in Salisbury increased from $62,000 to more than $112,000, while salaries in Savannah increased from $49,000 to nearly $85,000 during the five-year period.<\/p>\n<p>Austin, Texas, ranked fourth with a 30% increase in median tech income \u2014 although it\u2019s worth noting that Austin tech professionals were already earning approximately $80,000 per year in 2017. Finally, Fayetteville, Ark., experienced a 26% rise in median tech salary, which resulted in a $15,000 increase during the five-year period. Apart from Austin, the top five areas with the highest tech income growth also had some of the lowest costs for consumer goods and services, consequently providing tech workers with effective purchasing power.<\/p>\n<h2>Houston Leads Innovation Race with 9,000+ Tech Patents<\/h2>\n<p>During the analyzed period, the five metros with the highest numbers of tech patents granted also had the most organizations contributing to these patents. For this metric, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/office\/us\/tx\/houston\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Houston<\/a> emerged as the leader with more than 9,000 patents granted. But, compared to the other top four metropolitan areas, Houston had the lowest number of contributing organizations (473), indicating that innovation in Houston relies more on large, institutional actors or corporations with fewer small businesses involved.<\/p>\n<div class=\"flourish-embed flourish-chart\" data-src=\"visualisation\/14915766\"><script src=\"https:\/\/public.flourish.studio\/resources\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/div>\n<p>In contrast, Washington, D.C. had a more decentralized innovation process with nearly double the number of contributing organizations (864) \u2014 the highest number recorded. These organizations include government agencies and research institutions, such as the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Defense and the National Science Foundation. Additionally, D.C. saw 5,844 tech patents issued.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, two other Texas metropolitan areas \u2014 Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) and Austin \u2014 took second and third places, respectively, in both tech patent categories. The DFW metro area had 6,372 tech patents granted and nearly 700 contributing organizations, while Austin had 6,322 tech patents granted and 533 contributing organizations. Innovation also thrived in Atlanta, where the metro area closely followed with more than 6,000 tech patents granted between 2018 and 2022, as well as nearly 500 contributing organizations.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"background: white;\">Huntsville, Ala., <\/span>Leads Southern Region in Quality of Life<\/h2>\n<p>Tech companies can also benefit from the advantages of the Southern region by considering factors beyond salaries to include the overall quality of life. Namely, the region\u2019s relative affordability; exciting entertainment and food scene; and top-notch educational institutions create an environment that attracts young talent. Thus, as part of our study, we developed a comprehensive life-quality index that considers the cost of living (regional price parity), employment opportunities and education attainment levels in order to highlight the best metros to live in for tech workers across the South.<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-JJXGi\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100%; max-height: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"Life Quality Index - Data Behind the Points - South\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/JJXGi\/2\/\" height=\"623\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Table\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n<p>For this metric, Huntsville, Ala., was the best tech metro in the South with an impressive score of 12.4 out of 15 points. This was due to its low unemployment rate of 1.8% (the lowest in the region), as well as its second-best regional price parity, which means that tech professionals in Huntsville can enjoy a more affordable cost of living.<\/p>\n<p>Moving on to other top performers in the quality-of-life index were Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.; Charlottesville, Va.; and Raleigh, N.C., each of which earned scores of more than 10 points. These metros also stood out in terms of educational attainment, with more than half of their residents holding a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher. This then put them in the same league as only Washington, D.C. and Austin, Texas, as metropolitan areas with such high educational achievements.<\/p>\n<p>Following in the footsteps of Huntsville, Fayetteville, Ark., also excelled in terms of affordability and a strong job market. As a result, it secured the third spot in regional price parity to ensure a more favorable cost of living and also registered the second-lowest unemployment rate at 1.9%.<\/p>\n<h2>Methodology<\/h2>\n<p><iframe id=\"datawrapper-chart-FY1E1\" style=\"width: 0; min-width: 100%; max-height: 100% !important; border: none;\" title=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/datawrapper.dwcdn.net\/FY1E1\/2\/\" height=\"1307\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" aria-label=\"Table\" data-external=\"1\"><\/iframe><script type=\"text\/javascript\">!function(){\"use strict\";window.addEventListener(\"message\",(function(a){if(void 0!==a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"]){var e=document.querySelectorAll(\"iframe\");for(var t in a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"])for(var r=0;r<e.length;r++)if(e[r].contentWindow===a.source){var i=a.data[\"datawrapper-height\"][t]+\"px\";e[r].style.height=i}}}))}();<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The tech sector is currently experiencing a decentralization by expanding beyond traditional hubs to include new metropolitan areas across the U.S. with a particular focus on the South. This trend is evident in the recent relocations of major tech companies \u2014 like Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Oracle, Tesla, Google and Apple \u2014 to tech powerhouses along&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3163,"featured_media":36904,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false},"categories":[4014,39],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-36806","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-office","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v23.4 (Yoast SEO v24.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Top 20 Tech Metros in the South U.S.<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"From Superstars to Rising Stars, Here Are the South\u2019s Best Metros for Tech\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"CommercialCafe\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-10-10T11:00:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2025-09-22T06:29:57+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1980\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Matthew Preston\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Matthew Preston\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"12 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/\",\"name\":\"Top 20 Tech Metros in the South U.S.\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-10-10T11:00:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2025-09-22T06:29:57+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a8a1fa2b4207afba1c2bb0ef1e2d80\"},\"description\":\"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg\",\"width\":1980,\"height\":1280,\"caption\":\"Best Metros for Tech in the South\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"From Superstars to Rising Stars, Here Are the South\u2019s Best Metros for Tech\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"CommercialCafe\",\"description\":\"Your Commercial Real Estate Blog\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a8a1fa2b4207afba1c2bb0ef1e2d80\",\"name\":\"Matthew Preston\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Preston.png?w=96\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Preston.png?w=96\",\"caption\":\"Matthew Preston\"},\"description\":\"Matthew has covered commercial real estate for CommercialCafe since 2022. He focuses on the office and industrial sectors, reporting on leasing, development, and investment across national markets and individual submarkets. His work draws on data and original research. He also writes about demographic shifts and urban innovation in U.S. cities. The New York Times, The Real Deal, Bisnow, The Business Journals, and Yahoo Finance have cited his reporting.\",\"jobTitle\":\"Content Writer, CRE News & Market Analysis\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/author\/matthew-preston\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Top 20 Tech Metros in the South U.S.","description":"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"From Superstars to Rising Stars, Here Are the South\u2019s Best Metros for Tech","og_description":"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/","og_site_name":"CommercialCafe","article_published_time":"2023-10-10T11:00:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2025-09-22T06:29:57+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1980,"height":1280,"url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Matthew Preston","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Matthew Preston","Est. reading time":"12 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/","name":"Top 20 Tech Metros in the South U.S.","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg","datePublished":"2023-10-10T11:00:56+00:00","dateModified":"2025-09-22T06:29:57+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a8a1fa2b4207afba1c2bb0ef1e2d80"},"description":"With a focus on the rapidly expanding tech scene in the South, we aimed to uncover the best metros for tech in the region. Here are the results, ranked.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg","width":1980,"height":1280,"caption":"Best Metros for Tech in the South"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/best-metros-for-tech-south\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"From Superstars to Rising Stars, Here Are the South\u2019s Best Metros for Tech"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/","name":"CommercialCafe","description":"Your Commercial Real Estate Blog","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/44a8a1fa2b4207afba1c2bb0ef1e2d80","name":"Matthew Preston","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Preston.png?w=96","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/04\/Matthew-Preston.png?w=96","caption":"Matthew Preston"},"description":"Matthew has covered commercial real estate for CommercialCafe since 2022. He focuses on the office and industrial sectors, reporting on leasing, development, and investment across national markets and individual submarkets. His work draws on data and original research. He also writes about demographic shifts and urban innovation in U.S. cities. The New York Times, The Real Deal, Bisnow, The Business Journals, and Yahoo Finance have cited his reporting.","jobTitle":"Content Writer, CRE News & Market Analysis","url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/author\/matthew-preston\/"}]}},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/Best-Tech-Metros-in-the-South-Image.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36806","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3163"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=36806"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36806\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":37026,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/36806\/revisions\/37026"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/36904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=36806"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=36806"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.commercialcafe.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=36806"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}