Housing

Where's the Real 'Next Silicon Valley'?

A new report digs into the metrics of America’s emerging tech hubs, and finds some surprises.
Attendees participate in a game during the annual Google I/O developers conference in San Jose, California, U.S., May 17, 2017.Stephen Lam/Reuters

High-tech talent is a key driver of the wealth and competitiveness of cities. But it’s highly concentrated in places across the United States and the world, following a winner-take-all pattern and reinforcing the geographic inequality that underpins our broader economic and political divides.

While all of America’s top-ranked tech cities have a highly-skilled and highly-educated workforce, a whole host of other factors could shape which city is best positioned to be the next Silicon Valley. That’s a key takeaway from a new index created by real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield that identifies America’s 25 leading high-tech metro areas in 2016. The report covers some familiar ground—but it also contains some surprises.