Gone are the days when being called a nerd was an insult, so residents of Seattle, Washington, would not likely take offense learning that their city has been crowned the "nerdiest" in the nation.
Online privacy and digital security company All About Cookies analyzed 75 of the largest U.S. cities, looking at data including comic and gaming shops, patent activity, education, STEM employment, conventions and libraries to find out where so-called "nerd culture" is thriving the most.
It found that Seattle -- home to Amazon and Microsoft -- won over other major tech hubs like San Francisco, Austin, and New York City thanks to the sheer volume of tech & STEM jobs in the city, as well as its high patent issuance, and a high number of comic and gaming stores per capita.
The city, which is home to one of the most famous comic book conventions in the country, Emerald City Comic Con, also leads the nation in Google searches for what All About Cookies calls "nerdy topics."
All About Cookies used very specific metrics to identify the nerdiest cities in the country, encompassing different embodiments of what we described as "nerd."
While Seattle took the number one spot as the nerdiest city in the nation, Boston, Massachusetts, came second, largely due to its significant share of highly educated residents. According to All About Cookies' analysis, 24.6 percent of Boston residents have a Master's degree or a higher title. Many in the city are employed in the tech sector, and the rate of patents issued is among the highest in the country.
San Francisco, California, came third thanks to its very high patent per-capita rates -- with 806 patents issued for every 100,000 residents living there last year -- and many gaming stores relative to population.
Salt Lake City, Utah, was fourth thanks to its high searches for nerdy terms and high share of conventions and gaming stores per capita.
It was followed by Minneapolis, Minnesota, which the report describes as "the perfect place for someone with a nerdy hobby or interest." Minneapolis has 27.1 gaming stores per 100,000 -- the sixth-most of any city. It also boasts a rate of 9.4 comic book shops per 100,000 -- the 10th in the country -- and it ranks in the top 15 when it comes to fan conventions per capita.
Atlanta, Georgia, was sixth, thanks to the city being the nation's convention capital, with more per capita than any other city, hosting 4.3 conventions for every 100,000 residents this year.
In seventh, eighth,ninth and tenth place came Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania;St.Louis,Missouri;Dallas,Texas;and San Jose,California.Pittsburgh ranks between the top 10-15 for comic book stores,gaming shops,patents issued;and conventions per 100,000 people.
St.Louis makes it in the top 10 mainly due to its sheer number of comic book shops and gaming stores per capita—the second-highest in the nation.
Dallas has a similar number of gaming stores per capita as St.Louis according to All About Cookies but counts fewer comic shops.The Texas city however is a convention favorite hosting 2.8 per 100,000 people this year—the fifth-most of any city.
It is no surprise that San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley rounds up the top 10.Demand for tech and STEM-related jobs in San Jose is highest in nation;study found four times higher than national average significantly higher than any other city.More than quarter people living San Jose—27.6 percent—have high-level degree;nearly 850 patents per 100,000 people issued applicants San Jose last year.