The smartest cities in America, 2026: all 387 metros ranked on intellectual life

01 Key findings

1. Amherst-Northampton, MA is the most intellectual metro area in America in 2026. It scores 96.6 out of 100 on the IQ Metrics Intellectual Life Index, which ranks all 387 US metro areas on bookstores, public libraries, museums, colleges and graduate degrees per person; Pittsfield, MA, Ithaca, NY, Kingston, NY and Walla Walla, WA complete the top five.IQ Metrics Research index from US Census Bureau, IMLS and NCES data
2. Small places lead. 17 of the top 25 metros have fewer than 250,000 people, and only 2 of the 25 (Boston, MA, 14th and Hartford, CT, 22nd) are among the 50 largest metros that most city rankings cover.IQ Metrics Research index from US Census Bureau, IMLS and NCES data
3. Boston, MA is the top big city (14th of 387 overall); New York ranks 96th. Of the 55 metros with a million people or more, Riverside, CA ranks last.IQ Metrics Research index from US Census Bureau, IMLS and NCES data
4. 39 intellectual deserts are home to 15.7 million Americans. These are the bottom 10% of the index: 24 of them are in the South and 13 in the West, led by California (9), Florida (7) and Texas (7). Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA is the largest.IQ Metrics Research index from US Census Bureau, IMLS and NCES data
5. Money is only loosely linked to intellectual life. Across the 387 metros, the index and median household income move together only weakly (rank correlation 0.32, ACS 2024); Stockton, CA, with a median household income above $93,000, is an intellectual desert.ACS 2024 1-year; index as above

02 Statistics to quote

03 Which is the most intellectual city in America?

Amherst-Northampton, MA, the metro area around Amherst and Northampton in western Massachusetts. Our index counts what a place offers a curious person, per resident: bookstores ^[1], public library branches and how much people use them ^[2], museums and historical sites ^[1], colleges and students on campus ^[3], and the share of adults with a graduate degree ^[4]. Each dot on the map is one of the 387 metro areas; its size shows the population and its colour the index band. Hover or tap a dot to see its rank.

Figure 1

America's Intellectual Life Index 2026, every metro area

Index score, 0 to 100, for all 387 metro areas in the 50 states and DC. Dot area = population (July 2024).

Top 10% (ranks 1 to 39)Upper 20% (40 to 116)Middle 40% (117 to 271)Lower 20% (272 to 348)Intellectual deserts (349 to 387)Dot size = population

Figure 2

The 20 most intellectual metro areas in America, 2026

Index score, 0 to 100: books, libraries, museums, colleges and graduate degrees per person, 20% each.

Amherst-Northampton, MA96.6

Pittsfield, MA90.5

Ithaca, NY89.7

Kingston, NY88.2

Walla Walla, WA87.4

Ames, IA85.7

Portland, ME85.0

Flagstaff, AZ84.6

Manhattan, KS84.2

Burlington, VT83.7

Barnstable, MA82.8

Santa Fe, NM82.7

Charlottesville, VA82.5

Boston, MA82.3

Bozeman, MT81.5

Ann Arbor, MI80.6

Lafayette, IN80.1

Missoula, MT79.8

San Luis Obispo, CA79.0

State College, PA78.7

Ranks close together can swap with small changes in the counts. We redrew the counts of bookstores, museums, library branches and colleges and the survey estimate of graduate degrees 2,000 times within their uncertainty; the bars below show the range each rank fell in nine times out of ten. Small metros have wider ranges, because one bookstore more or less moves their rate a lot.

Figure 3

How sure is each rank? The top 25

Dot = rank, bar = range in 90% of 2,000 redraws of the data.

Amherst-Northampton, MA1 (1–4)

Pittsfield, MA2 (1–9)

Ithaca, NY3 (2–44)

Kingston, NY4 (2–16)

Walla Walla, WA5 (3–50)

Ames, IA6 (2–43)

Portland, ME7 (4–17)

Flagstaff, AZ8 (3–38)

Manhattan, KS9 (3–50)

Burlington, VT10 (3–48)

Barnstable, MA11 (4–19)

Santa Fe, NM12 (7–43)

Charlottesville, VA13 (4–37)

Boston, MA14 (6–16)

Bozeman, MT15 (4–44)

Ann Arbor, MI16 (4–32)

Lafayette, IN17 (6–52)

Missoula, MT18 (5–73)

San Luis Obispo, CA19 (8–53)

State College, PA20 (8–67)

Blacksburg, VA21 (9–67)

Hartford, CT22 (10–35)

Santa Maria, CA23 (14–50)

Albany, NY24 (12–42)

Norwich, CT25 (17–82)

120406080

Table 1

Every metro area, ranked

Click a heading to sort. Range = rank in 90% of 2,000 redraws. Size = rank among large (1 million+), mid-size (250,000 to 1 million) or small (under 250,000) metros. Bookstores and museums (incl. historical sites) per 100,000 people; library visits per person a year; colleges = degree-granting colleges with students on campus; graduate = % of adults 25+.

Rank	Metro area	Score	Range	Size	Books	Library	Museums	Colleges	Graduate %
1	Amherst-Northampton, MA	96.6	1-4	Small 1	6.1	5.2	3.6	6	29.0
2	Pittsfield, MA	90.5	1-9	Small 2	6.2	4.5	11.6	4	19.3
3	Ithaca, NY	89.7	2-44	Small 3	3.8	2.8	2.9	3	36.9
4	Kingston, NY	88.2	2-16	Small 4	4.9	4.8	7.1	3	18.4
5	Walla Walla, WA	87.4	3-50	Small 5	6.4	2.4	4.8	3	17.8
6	Ames, IA	85.7	2-43	Small 6	3.9	4.8	3.1	1	20.4
7	Portland-South Portland, ME	85.0	4-17	Mid-size 1	3.7	4.3	7.0	9	19.5
8	Flagstaff, AZ	84.6	3-38	Small 7	8.3	4.4	2.8	3	17.2
9	Manhattan, KS	84.2	3-50	Small 8	2.2	3.8	6.0	3	18.6
10	Burlington-South Burlington, VT	83.7	3-48	Small 9	2.6	4.1	3.1	3	21.3
11	Barnstable, MA	82.8	4-19	Small 10	5.1	6.4	12.4	2	23.6
12	Santa Fe, NM	82.7	7-43	Small 11	3.8	3.3	8.9	4	26.9
13	Charlottesville, VA	82.5	4-37	Small 12	3.5	4.4	4.0	2	28.8
14	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	82.3	6-16	Large 1	2.4	4.1	3.9	68	25.2
15	Bozeman, MT	81.5	4-44	Small 13	4.7	3.1	4.7	1	20.6
16	Ann Arbor, MI	80.6	4-32	Mid-size 2	4.3	6.1	1.6	4	32.4
17	Lafayette-West Lafayette, IN	80.1	6-52	Small 14	3.5	2.6	3.9	2	15.6
18	Missoula, MT	79.8	5-73	Small 15	3.1	4.1	3.9	1	19.5
19	San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	79.0	8-53	Mid-size 3	2.8	2.4	3.9	3	17.1
20	State College, PA	78.7	8-67	Small 16	5.0	1.9	1.9	4	22.8
21	Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford, VA	78.5	9-67	Small 17	5.0	2.9	1.7	4	17.9
22	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	78.0	10-35	Large 2	2.3	4.1	3.0	11	20.0
23	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	77.7	14-50	Mid-size 4	2.7	2.2	6.1	9	15.7
24	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	76.4	12-42	Mid-size 5	1.6	3.2	3.1	20	21.2
25	Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	75.8	17-82	Mid-size 6	2.5	3.4	3.9	5	16.7
26	Traverse City, MI	75.6	12-54	Small 18	5.1	4.1	8.3	1	15.7
27	Asheville, NC	75.2	19-69	Mid-size 7	4.0	2.8	2.4	8	18.4
28	Rochester, NY	75.2	15-48	Large 3	2.1	4.0	2.5	17	17.3
29	Trenton-Princeton, NJ	74.8	11-68	Mid-size 8	1.8	4.5	3.0	6	23.3
30	Iowa City, IA	74.5	8-90	Small 19	2.8	7.0	1.7	1	23.7
31	Lexington-Fayette, KY	74.2	15-67	Mid-size 9	2.4	3.1	2.3	7	19.0
32	Syracuse, NY	74.1	15-60	Mid-size 10	1.7	3.4	2.9	11	17.1
33	La Crosse-Onalaska, WI-MN	73.9	13-138	Small 20	2.3	4.9	1.8	3	13.5
34	Grand Junction, CO	73.8	15-131	Small 21	3.1	4.5	2.5	2	13.7
35	Kiryas Joel-Poughkeepsie-Newburgh, NY	73.5	24-70	Mid-size 11	2.9	2.8	2.5	11	15.6
36	Boulder, CO	73.3	10-77	Mid-size 12	1.8	4.3	2.1	4	31.2
37	Bangor, ME	73.3	20-146	Small 22	2.5	2.7	3.2	4	11.8
38	Niles, MI	73.3	23-123	Small 23	4.6	3.8	3.3	2	12.3
39	Prescott Valley-Prescott, AZ	73.2	20-107	Mid-size 13	2.8	4.5	3.2	3	13.0
40	New Haven, CT	73.0	18-71	Mid-size 14	2.6	3.2	2.6	5	20.8
41	South Bend-Mishawaka, IN-MI	72.8	20-87	Mid-size 15	3.7	3.7	1.5	7	12.5
42	Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA	72.2	13-93	Mid-size 16	1.5	3.4	3.1	3	19.1
43	Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA	71.7	21-146	Small 24	3.0	3.6	1.8	4	11.5
44	Utica-Rome, NY	71.6	29-123	Mid-size 17	3.1	2.1	2.8	6	13.3
45	Glens Falls, NY	71.5	23-149	Small 25	2.4	3.9	8.8	2	13.1
46	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	71.5	26-49	Large 4	2.2	3.6	2.2	53	23.3
47	Harrisonburg, VA	71.0	24-170	Small 26	3.6	1.3	2.2	3	14.2
48	Staunton-Stuarts Draft, VA	71.0	30-172	Small 27	3.9	2.9	3.1	2	11.4
49	Columbia, MO	70.7	20-124	Small 28	2.8	1.6	1.4	5	23.2
50	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	70.3	29-115	Mid-size 18	2.1	3.4	3.4	8	12.1
51	Bloomington, IL	70.2	35-136	Small 29	2.9	2.8	0.0	3	17.3
52	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	69.9	33-70	Large 5	2.2	2.9	4.1	17	14.8
53	Bellingham, WA	69.7	18-125	Small 30	1.3	4.3	2.1	4	15.7
54	Corvallis, OR	69.6	25-163	Small 31	3.1	4.1	0.0	1	29.3
55	Richmond, VA	69.4	33-78	Large 6	2.1	2.9	2.9	17	17.5
56	Winchester, VA-WV	69.3	33-153	Small 32	4.0	1.9	4.7	2	13.0
57	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	69.2	24-91	Mid-size 19	2.3	2.0	2.3	6	27.3
58	Pittsburgh, PA	69.1	38-75	Large 7	1.9	2.7	2.2	41	15.7
59	Madison, WI	69.0	20-70	Mid-size 20	1.4	5.6	2.6	4	20.8
60	Eugene-Springfield, OR	68.7	27-124	Mid-size 21	2.6	3.2	2.1	4	14.4
61	Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	68.4	25-143	Mid-size 22	2.3	2.8	1.1	4	15.8
62	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	68.3	32-85	Large 8	2.5	2.5	2.2	12	17.0
63	Lawrence, KS	67.8	35-147	Small 33	0.0	3.8	2.5	4	26.8
64	Dayton-Kettering-Beavercreek, OH	67.3	31-91	Mid-size 23	1.3	4.0	2.1	17	15.3
65	Eau Claire, WI	67.2	28-177	Small 34	2.3	3.2	2.8	2	11.3
66	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	67.0	46-111	Mid-size 24	2.2	2.6	3.5	15	14.2
67	Binghamton, NY	66.9	30-155	Small 35	2.5	2.7	2.9	2	13.6
68	Gettysburg, PA	66.7	49-189	Small 36	3.7	1.8	8.4	2	11.6
69	Wheeling, WV-OH	66.3	43-173	Small 37	2.2	2.3	5.2	5	9.8
70	Lincoln, NE	66.1	55-129	Mid-size 25	3.4	2.5	0.0	7	17.3
71	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	66.0	39-129	Mid-size 26	2.9	3.0	2.5	4	15.2
72	Bridgeport-Stamford-Danbury, CT	65.9	36-93	Mid-size 27	1.8	5.3	3.1	6	22.6
73	Duluth, MN-WI	65.8	32-121	Mid-size 28	1.4	2.6	6.8	6	11.2
74	Napa, CA	65.8	37-214	Small 38	2.3	2.8	3.0	2	14.0
75	Erie, PA	65.7	42-161	Mid-size 29	3.4	2.0	1.5	6	13.2
76	Dubuque, IA	65.6	58-185	Small 39	4.0	3.7	0.0	6	12.9
77	Athens-Clarke County, GA	65.1	31-167	Small 40	2.2	2.0	1.3	3	20.8
78	Lynchburg, VA	65.0	39-162	Mid-size 30	1.9	2.3	2.6	7	12.0
79	Fairbanks-College, AK	65.0	43-190	Small 41	4.2	1.4	6.3	1	14.2
80	Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ	65.0	44-166	Small 42	4.0	2.7	8.0	1	11.4
81	Rochester, MN	64.8	32-159	Small 43	1.3	2.7	3.0	3	18.6
82	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	64.7	41-90	Large 9	2.0	4.3	1.2	18	28.5
83	Lansing-East Lansing, MI	64.4	43-134	Mid-size 31	2.5	3.1	0.6	5	15.3
84	Bloomington, IN	64.1	42-153	Small 44	3.6	3.8	0.0	1	22.8
85	Johnstown, PA	64.0	54-216	Small 45	2.3	1.6	3.1	5	10.0
86	Toledo, OH	63.8	42-137	Mid-size 32	1.5	4.7	2.0	10	11.9
87	Fort Collins-Loveland, CO	63.7	35-132	Mid-size 33	2.7	3.3	1.1	2	22.7
88	Rapid City, SD	63.3	43-193	Small 46	1.9	2.6	8.3	2	12.7
89	Jefferson City, MO	63.1	54-211	Small 47	4.0	2.6	2.0	4	9.1
90	Colorado Springs, CO	62.9	52-143	Mid-size 34	1.9	2.7	2.3	9	17.4
91	Minot, ND	62.9	64-237	Small 48	4.0	1.8	7.9	1	8.1
92	Tallahassee, FL	62.8	44-149	Mid-size 35	3.0	1.8	1.5	3	20.1
93	Muncie, IN	62.4	47-241	Small 49	2.7	1.8	2.7	1	12.0
94	Battle Creek, MI	62.3	75-234	Small 50	3.7	2.8	3.7	2	7.6
95	Morgantown, WV	62.3	73-165	Small 51	7.0	1.2	0.0	2	20.5
96	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	62.2	69-96	Large 10	1.7	3.3	1.7	244	19.4
97	Cheyenne, WY	62.2	54-235	Small 52	3.0	3.1	4.9	1	10.8
98	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	62.1	55-108	Large 11	1.7	3.0	1.6	27	21.3
99	Grand Forks, ND-MN	62.1	69-222	Small 53	0.0	3.3	2.9	2	12.1
100	Dover, DE	62.0	53-209	Small 54	2.6	1.5	3.1	2	13.9
101	Gainesville, FL	61.9	61-170	Mid-size 36	2.0	2.3	0.0	5	22.8
102	Worcester, MA	61.5	51-140	Mid-size 37	1.7	3.5	1.2	11	16.5
103	Helena, MT	61.4	87-236	Small 55	4.1	4.4	0.0	2	13.7
104	Mankato, MN	61.2	69-222	Small 56	0.0	2.8	2.9	4	12.4
105	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	61.2	66-105	Large 12	1.9	2.9	1.5	54	27.9
106	Evansville, IN	60.9	56-191	Mid-size 38	2.9	3.9	2.2	2	10.9
107	Bend, OR	60.8	60-197	Mid-size 39	3.0	2.6	2.3	2	16.1
108	St. Louis, MO-IL	60.7	66-122	Large 13	1.5	3.1	1.5	38	16.4
109	Terre Haute, IN	60.6	71-243	Small 57	2.4	2.2	3.0	3	8.8
110	Manchester-Nashua, NH	60.5	56-180	Mid-size 40	2.1	2.6	1.4	7	17.1
111	Champaign-Urbana, IL	60.4	44-151	Small 58	1.3	4.9	0.0	2	24.1
112	Sandusky, OH	60.1	90-202	Small 59	0.0	4.6	6.2	2	12.9
113	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	60.0	60-165	Mid-size 41	2.3	2.4	1.6	4	15.4
114	Idaho Falls, ID	60.0	66-224	Small 60	3.5	2.5	1.8	2	11.5
115	Abilene, TX	59.9	87-233	Small 61	2.7	2.1	4.9	3	9.8
116	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	59.7	71-125	Large 14	1.8	3.1	1.6	37	20.2
117	Sheboygan, WI	59.7	64-253	Small 62	2.5	4.3	3.4	1	9.1
118	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	59.6	82-123	Large 15	1.6	2.2	2.0	75	18.6
119	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	59.5	71-140	Large 16	1.7	3.5	1.7	24	14.4
120	Springfield, MA	59.4	73-182	Mid-size 42	2.6	2.7	0.9	9	12.6
121	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	59.4	76-143	Large 17	2.0	3.0	1.8	22	17.2
122	Roanoke, VA	59.3	65-207	Mid-size 43	1.9	3.3	1.9	6	11.8
123	Savannah, GA	59.3	66-181	Mid-size 44	1.8	1.4	4.6	4	15.2
124	Atlantic City-Hammonton, NJ	59.3	67-184	Mid-size 45	2.1	4.5	3.2	2	11.9
125	Bremerton-Silverdale-Port Orchard, WA	58.9	69-199	Mid-size 46	2.8	3.0	2.5	1	14.7
126	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	58.6	76-133	Large 18	1.4	2.9	1.5	41	18.5
127	Watertown-Fort Drum, NY	58.5	73-250	Small 63	2.7	2.1	4.4	1	11.4
128	Auburn-Opelika, AL	58.4	81-209	Small 64	2.9	2.7	0.0	2	19.6
129	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	58.4	77-149	Large 19	1.2	3.8	2.1	19	14.4
130	Lancaster, PA	58.3	80-189	Mid-size 47	1.6	2.5	3.2	9	12.7
131	Omaha, NE-IA	58.3	72-169	Large 20	1.7	2.4	1.8	11	14.7
132	St. Cloud, MN	58.2	71-220	Small 65	1.5	1.9	3.4	5	9.0
133	Mount Vernon-Anacortes, WA	58.0	64-250	Small 66	2.3	3.3	3.0	1	11.7
134	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	58.0	72-175	Mid-size 48	2.1	3.8	1.2	7	13.3
135	Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	57.5	87-157	Large 21	2.5	3.2	0.7	10	15.5
136	Salinas, CA	57.4	73-200	Mid-size 49	1.6	2.3	3.0	5	12.3
137	Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	57.1	91-163	Large 22	1.8	2.4	1.7	26	16.6
138	Springfield, MO	57.0	72-177	Mid-size 50	1.0	3.1	1.4	11	13.6
139	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	56.9	79-177	Mid-size 51	1.6	2.3	2.5	9	16.3
140	Cleveland, OH	56.7	90-158	Large 23	1.2	5.1	1.8	23	13.9
141	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	56.5	101-141	Large 24	1.5	3.4	1.1	96	17.6
142	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	56.3	83-186	Mid-size 52	1.0	2.8	2.3	7	15.1
143	Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Port Royal, SC	56.2	85-246	Small 67	2.5	1.6	2.5	2	17.6
144	Billings, MT	56.2	108-256	Small 68	2.6	1.8	5.7	3	9.4
145	Knoxville, TN	56.1	87-180	Mid-size 53	1.9	1.7	2.5	6	13.8
146	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	56.1	94-149	Large 25	1.4	3.2	1.6	36	16.3
147	Green Bay, WI	56.1	79-225	Mid-size 54	1.8	2.4	2.1	5	9.6
148	Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	56.0	87-180	Large 26	1.7	3.9	1.1	13	13.4
149	Kenosha, WI	55.9	108-248	Small 69	2.4	3.2	0.0	4	11.2
150	College Station-Bryan, TX	55.9	72-214	Mid-size 55	2.4	1.3	1.4	1	19.2
151	Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	55.9	92-154	Large 27	1.4	3.1	1.5	26	19.9
152	Salisbury, MD	55.8	106-269	Small 70	2.3	1.7	0.0	3	14.4
153	Wilmington, NC	55.8	82-201	Mid-size 56	1.9	2.1	2.5	4	14.4
154	Huntsville, AL	55.8	90-200	Mid-size 57	2.0	2.6	0.6	7	17.4
155	Monroe, LA	55.4	85-248	Small 71	1.8	2.3	2.7	3	10.7
156	Fargo, ND-MN	55.4	69-231	Mid-size 58	1.5	2.4	1.5	4	13.7
157	Midland, MI	55.3	114-257	Small 72	4.8	2.9	0.0	1	17.5
158	Jackson, TN	55.3	98-271	Small 73	2.7	1.6	1.6	4	11.7
159	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	55.2	99-210	Mid-size 59	2.3	3.6	1.0	8	12.5
160	Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	55.2	90-163	Large 28	1.6	3.1	1.3	17	14.8
161	Wichita, KS	55.1	94-205	Mid-size 60	1.5	2.2	2.0	10	12.2
162	Lima, OH	55.0	142-255	Small 74	5.0	2.0	0.0	4	8.2
163	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	54.9	106-235	Mid-size 61	2.5	2.0	1.1	7	9.8
164	Waco, TX	54.7	94-249	Mid-size 62	2.0	1.4	2.3	4	10.5
165	Florence-Muscle Shoals, AL	54.7	87-279	Small 75	1.9	1.6	1.9	3	10.0
166	Birmingham, AL	54.6	103-192	Large 29	2.1	2.6	1.4	11	14.1
167	Topeka, KS	54.3	90-251	Small 76	2.1	2.8	2.1	2	10.4
168	Akron, OH	54.2	81-184	Mid-size 63	1.4	4.4	0.9	6	14.1
169	Cedar Rapids, IA	54.1	80-229	Mid-size 64	1.1	3.8	1.8	4	10.1
170	Reading, PA	54.0	100-227	Mid-size 65	1.6	2.3	2.3	6	11.1
171	Wenatchee-East Wenatchee, WA	53.7	116-287	Small 77	3.2	1.8	3.9	1	9.6
172	Winston-Salem, NC	53.6	111-220	Mid-size 66	2.3	2.5	1.6	8	13.8
173	Greenville, NC	53.5	121-256	Small 78	3.3	1.9	0.0	2	14.1
174	Columbus, OH	53.3	114-174	Large 30	1.1	4.4	0.9	25	15.0
175	Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	53.3	116-193	Large 31	1.9	2.3	1.2	22	14.9
176	Jackson, MS	53.1	121-233	Mid-size 67	2.3	1.5	1.3	9	12.9
177	Anchorage, AK	53.1	100-244	Mid-size 68	1.7	2.0	2.2	5	14.5
178	Sioux City, IA-NE-SD	53.0	158-260	Small 79	0.0	2.8	4.1	4	9.2
179	Tucson, AZ	52.9	104-199	Large 32	1.8	2.4	1.7	8	17.0
180	Canton-Massillon, OH	52.8	96-228	Mid-size 69	1.3	3.5	2.0	7	9.2
181	Medford, OR	52.7	131-255	Small 80	3.2	3.3	0.0	2	13.2
182	Kansas City, MO-KS	52.7	126-184	Large 33	0.9	3.3	1.6	24	15.5
183	Scranton–Wilkes-Barre, PA	52.7	124-227	Mid-size 70	2.3	1.9	1.2	17	11.5
184	Elmira, NY	52.7	154-287	Small 81	0.0	2.2	4.9	2	12.8
185	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	52.6	123-223	Mid-size 71	1.7	1.5	2.0	14	13.1
186	St. Joseph, MO-KS	52.3	163-264	Small 82	0.0	2.9	5.0	2	7.8
187	Peoria, IL	52.0	100-226	Mid-size 72	1.1	3.5	1.1	5	12.6
188	Valdosta, GA	52.0	95-299	Small 83	2.0	1.3	2.0	2	11.6
189	Montgomery, AL	51.7	118-256	Mid-size 73	1.8	1.3	1.5	6	14.8
190	Columbia, SC	51.5	126-217	Mid-size 74	1.8	2.3	0.5	9	15.1
191	Tuscaloosa, AL	51.4	88-234	Mid-size 75	1.1	3.0	1.1	3	15.2
192	Hattiesburg, MS	51.4	140-291	Small 84	2.5	1.3	0.0	2	14.0
193	Decatur, IL	51.0	170-295	Small 85	0.0	2.8	4.0	2	8.2
194	Raleigh-Cary, NC	50.9	125-197	Large 34	1.6	2.1	0.8	13	21.7
195	Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT	50.8	108-207	Mid-size 76	1.7	3.8	0.7	5	13.7
196	Owensboro, KY	50.8	150-289	Small 86	0.0	3.9	2.6	3	10.5
197	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	50.8	162-242	Mid-size 77	2.6	3.2	0.4	11	12.6
198	Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC	50.8	143-296	Small 87	2.8	1.6	0.0	1	18.5
199	St. George, UT	50.6	87-263	Small 88	1.9	2.7	1.4	1	12.4
200	Charleston, WV	50.5	124-292	Small 89	2.0	1.8	1.5	4	10.3
201	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	50.4	162-239	Large 35	2.4	1.4	1.7	19	12.2
202	Macon-Bibb County, GA	50.3	125-284	Small 90	1.7	1.2	2.5	4	10.3
203	Fond du Lac, WI	49.7	171-303	Small 91	0.0	3.4	2.9	3	6.4
204	Springfield, IL	49.7	149-273	Small 92	0.0	1.9	1.5	3	15.8
205	Bowling Green, KY	49.7	91-273	Small 93	1.5	2.5	1.5	2	11.0
206	Lubbock, TX	49.3	118-261	Mid-size 78	1.6	1.2	1.6	4	12.3
207	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	49.3	168-207	Large 36	1.4	2.1	1.2	171	14.2
208	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	49.2	131-264	Mid-size 79	1.8	2.6	1.3	7	10.7
209	Oshkosh-Neenah, WI	49.0	151-261	Small 94	0.0	3.4	3.5	1	10.3
210	Grand Island, NE	48.9	171-316	Small 95	0.0	2.8	3.8	1	8.3
211	Burlington, NC	48.9	127-302	Small 96	2.2	1.6	2.2	2	10.7
212	Sherman-Denison, TX	47.9	155-326	Small 97	2.7	1.7	2.0	2	7.6
213	Fort Wayne, IN	47.6	152-262	Mid-size 80	0.9	4.8	1.7	6	10.1
214	Oklahoma City, OK	47.5	153-233	Large 37	1.4	2.0	1.3	16	13.7
215	Kokomo, IN	47.4	178-332	Small 98	3.6	5.1	0.0	1	7.0
216	Kankakee, IL	47.3	190-322	Small 99	0.0	2.6	2.8	2	7.9
217	Tulsa, OK	47.3	161-249	Large 38	1.8	2.1	1.4	15	10.8
218	Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	47.2	157-218	Large 39	1.2	2.3	1.0	18	20.6
219	Greenville-Anderson-Greer, SC	47.1	151-245	Mid-size 81	1.6	2.0	1.0	10	13.4
220	Lewiston-Auburn, ME	47.0	206-316	Small 100	0.0	1.7	3.5	3	7.5
221	Greensboro-High Point, NC	47.0	156-255	Mid-size 82	1.3	2.4	1.5	11	11.9
222	San Angelo, TX	46.9	159-311	Small 101	3.3	2.1	0.0	1	10.8
223	Rome, GA	46.7	197-320	Small 102	4.0	1.1	0.0	4	9.7
224	Appleton, WI	46.6	124-275	Small 103	1.2	2.5	2.0	2	10.2
225	Baton Rouge, LA	46.5	159-245	Mid-size 83	1.0	3.1	1.0	10	11.9
226	Tyler, TX	46.4	148-304	Small 104	2.0	1.0	1.6	3	11.3
227	Albuquerque, NM	46.3	153-244	Mid-size 84	1.5	2.3	0.9	7	15.4
228	Louisville, KY-IN	45.8	167-249	Large 40	1.4	2.2	1.6	14	13.6
229	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	45.6	159-258	Mid-size 85	1.7	1.8	1.4	7	14.7
230	Chico, CA	45.5	136-300	Small 105	1.4	1.3	1.4	3	11.2
231	Lafayette, LA	45.5	159-277	Mid-size 86	1.4	2.3	1.0	6	9.7
232	Urban Honolulu, HI	45.2	175-264	Mid-size 87	1.2	1.1	1.6	13	14.7
233	Rockford, IL	45.2	168-292	Mid-size 88	1.2	2.4	2.4	5	10.1
234	Springfield, OH	45.0	194-325	Small 106	0.0	3.0	2.2	2	9.2
235	Las Cruces, NM	45.0	186-312	Small 107	2.2	1.4	0.0	3	13.2
236	Sioux Falls, SD-MN	44.6	185-291	Mid-size 89	0.0	3.3	1.3	4	12.4
237	Alexandria, LA	44.5	203-318	Small 108	0.0	2.1	2.0	4	10.0
238	Warner Robins, GA	44.5	194-305	Small 109	3.4	1.0	0.0	2	12.8
239	Columbus, IN	44.3	201-324	Small 110	4.7	2.8	0.0	0	13.1
240	Boise City, ID	44.3	189-257	Mid-size 90	0.5	2.9	0.9	8	12.8
241	Altoona, PA	43.8	223-336	Small 111	0.0	2.2	3.3	2	9.3
242	Reno, NV	43.8	159-274	Mid-size 91	1.7	1.7	1.4	3	13.2
243	Logan, UT-ID	43.7	194-275	Small 112	0.0	2.2	0.0	1	15.7
244	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	43.7	199-244	Large 41	1.4	2.3	1.3	68	15.0
245	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	43.6	177-280	Mid-size 92	1.8	2.0	1.9	6	10.8
246	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	43.5	194-253	Large 42	1.5	1.7	1.3	25	15.3
247	Parkersburg-Vienna, WV	43.4	208-344	Small 113	3.4	2.1	0.0	1	9.2
248	Jacksonville, FL	43.2	197-264	Large 43	1.9	2.0	1.5	10	13.5
249	Elkhart-Goshen, IN	43.2	169-320	Small 114	1.4	2.9	2.4	2	7.8
250	Pocatello, ID	43.1	206-309	Small 115	0.0	3.0	0.0	1	13.0
251	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	42.7	195-315	Mid-size 93	2.0	1.7	1.8	5	6.9
252	Chattanooga, TN-GA	42.6	183-294	Mid-size 94	1.4	1.3	1.7	7	12.2
253	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	42.6	182-276	Mid-size 95	1.5	2.4	1.1	2	14.8
254	Morristown, TN	42.5	228-336	Small 116	3.9	1.3	0.0	2	6.8
255	Fort Smith, AR-OK	42.3	188-317	Small 117	3.4	2.0	1.3	2	7.1
256	Beckley, WV	42.2	230-345	Small 118	2.7	1.8	0.0	4	7.6
257	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC	42.1	188-308	Mid-size 96	1.9	1.3	1.4	4	10.7
258	Hot Springs, AR	42.1	225-341	Small 119	0.0	2.9	3.0	2	8.8
259	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	42.1	210-259	Large 44	1.4	1.7	1.0	46	17.5
260	Amarillo, TX	42.0	159-300	Mid-size 97	1.1	1.5	1.8	2	10.7
261	Spartanburg, SC	42.0	187-298	Mid-size 98	1.3	2.5	1.0	7	9.7
262	Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV	41.7	189-319	Mid-size 99	1.9	1.7	1.6	3	9.3
263	Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, FL	41.7	180-310	Mid-size 100	1.9	2.0	1.3	1	14.9
264	Jonesboro, AR	41.7	189-332	Small 120	2.2	1.6	0.0	1	11.9
265	Brunswick-St. Simons, GA	41.5	214-341	Small 121	3.4	1.9	0.0	1	12.2
266	Youngstown-Warren, OH	41.4	177-297	Mid-size 101	1.4	3.3	1.6	3	8.5
267	Jackson, MI	41.3	215-331	Small 122	0.0	2.5	1.9	2	8.6
268	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	41.1	206-268	Large 45	1.3	1.8	0.9	19	13.5
269	Joplin, MO-KS	41.1	238-334	Small 123	0.0	1.9	2.9	3	7.7
270	Greeley, CO	41.1	188-284	Mid-size 102	1.3	4.1	0.0	2	12.6
271	Kahului-Wailuku, HI	41.0	171-336	Small 124	1.8	1.5	1.8	1	11.8
272	Ogden, UT	40.9	192-283	Mid-size 103	1.8	2.8	0.9	2	11.4
273	Daphne-Fairhope-Foley, AL	40.8	198-319	Mid-size 104	1.9	2.9	0.0	2	12.9
274	Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	40.7	208-323	Mid-size 105	1.9	1.6	2.1	4	7.4
275	Cleveland, TN	40.7	224-348	Small 125	2.3	1.3	0.0	3	9.4
276	Saginaw, MI	40.3	226-322	Small 126	0.0	2.9	3.2	1	8.8
277	Great Falls, MT	40.1	252-349	Small 127	0.0	1.4	4.7	2	8.4
278	Mobile, AL	39.9	198-312	Mid-size 106	1.5	2.1	1.0	5	9.8
279	Kennewick-Richland, WA	39.0	188-316	Mid-size 107	1.9	2.1	0.9	2	11.3
280	Gadsden, AL	39.0	239-358	Small 128	2.9	1.8	0.0	1	7.6
281	Cape Girardeau, MO-IL	38.9	255-340	Small 129	0.0	1.7	0.0	2	12.1
282	Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	38.8	214-308	Mid-size 108	1.2	2.0	2.6	1	11.4
283	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	38.4	241-283	Large 46	1.1	2.3	0.7	27	14.4
284	Gainesville, GA	38.1	194-333	Small 130	1.3	1.3	1.3	3	12.5
285	North Port-Bradenton-Sarasota, FL	37.8	217-291	Mid-size 109	1.2	2.3	1.0	7	15.9
286	Kingsport-Bristol, TN-VA	37.5	252-342	Mid-size 110	2.2	1.9	0.0	4	8.9
287	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	37.2	250-287	Large 47	1.1	1.5	0.9	54	15.2
288	Coeur d’Alene, ID	37.0	227-339	Small 131	2.1	3.0	0.0	1	10.0
289	Redding, CA	37.0	250-352	Small 132	2.2	2.4	0.0	3	8.2
290	Longview-Kelso, WA	37.0	244-353	Small 133	0.0	2.9	2.6	1	6.4
291	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	36.9	250-296	Large 48	1.0	1.6	1.0	26	12.5
292	Chambersburg, PA	36.9	262-355	Small 134	0.0	1.6	2.5	3	9.9
293	Columbus, GA-AL	36.8	242-337	Mid-size 111	1.8	1.9	0.0	4	11.1
294	Corpus Christi, TX	36.7	232-319	Mid-size 112	0.9	1.5	2.7	3	9.1
295	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	36.6	260-295	Large 49	1.0	1.6	0.5	41	14.3
296	Florence, SC	36.5	232-345	Small 135	1.5	1.6	0.0	3	11.5
297	Racine-Mount Pleasant, WI	36.4	201-337	Small 136	1.5	2.6	2.0	1	9.5
298	Salem, OR	36.3	239-328	Mid-size 113	0.7	1.7	1.6	5	10.0
299	Lebanon, PA	36.3	246-354	Small 137	2.8	2.2	0.0	1	9.8
300	Bismarck, ND	36.2	270-343	Small 138	0.0	2.2	0.0	3	11.6
301	Pueblo, CO	36.0	268-335	Small 139	0.0	3.6	0.0	2	8.9
302	Longview, TX	36.0	231-343	Mid-size 114	1.3	1.3	2.0	4	6.8
303	Hammond, LA	36.0	246-355	Small 140	2.9	1.6	0.0	1	6.5
304	Wausau, WI	35.8	254-349	Small 141	0.0	1.1	2.9	1	7.8
305	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	35.5	255-305	Large 50	1.3	1.9	0.8	20	13.2
306	Olympia-Lacey-Tumwater, WA	35.5	234-331	Mid-size 115	1.3	1.1	0.0	3	17.6
307	Lake Charles, LA	35.4	257-344	Small 142	0.0	1.9	2.1	2	7.6
308	Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH	35.3	292-346	Small 143	0.0	1.7	0.0	3	8.7
309	Williamsport, PA	35.2	287-351	Small 144	0.0	2.1	0.0	2	9.2
310	Johnson City, TN	35.0	230-335	Small 145	1.4	1.9	0.0	2	11.0
311	Fayetteville, NC	34.9	242-333	Mid-size 116	1.0	1.6	1.0	6	10.5
312	Albany, GA	34.8	281-349	Small 146	0.0	1.8	0.0	2	11.7
313	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	34.7	260-313	Large 51	1.2	1.7	1.0	19	14.3
314	Lexington Park, MD	34.6	267-323	Small 147	0.0	3.1	0.0	1	16.0
315	Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA	34.5	241-338	Mid-size 117	1.4	2.2	0.0	2	13.7
316	Goldsboro, NC	34.1	285-368	Small 148	3.3	1.5	0.0	2	7.0
317	Elizabethtown, KY	33.8	251-363	Small 149	2.3	1.5	0.0	1	11.7
318	Lewiston, ID-WA	33.8	293-358	Small 150	0.0	2.3	0.0	1	8.0
319	Michigan City-La Porte, IN	33.4	292-365	Small 151	0.0	2.7	2.7	0	7.3
320	Mansfield, OH	33.0	305-353	Small 152	0.0	4.4	0.0	2	5.9
321	Naples-Marco Island, FL	33.0	250-324	Mid-size 118	1.2	2.0	0.0	2	18.3
322	Waterbury-Shelton, CT	32.9	268-333	Mid-size 119	0.0	2.6	1.1	2	13.0
323	Texarkana, TX-AR	32.9	282-367	Small 153	0.0	1.1	2.0	2	8.0
324	Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	32.8	284-324	Large 52	0.9	1.2	1.0	49	14.3
325	York-Hanover, PA	32.5	252-344	Mid-size 120	1.9	1.4	1.1	3	10.7
326	Dothan, AL	32.2	281-364	Small 154	3.2	2.2	0.0	1	7.5
327	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	31.8	265-337	Mid-size 121	0.9	1.0	0.9	7	12.2
328	Janesville-Beloit, WI	31.3	302-357	Small 155	0.0	3.5	0.0	2	9.2
329	Clarksville, TN-KY	31.0	298-363	Mid-size 122	2.3	1.0	0.0	4	9.4
330	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	30.9	266-330	Mid-size 123	1.2	1.7	0.8	5	12.3
331	Flint, MI	30.8	258-349	Mid-size 124	1.5	2.1	1.0	3	8.1
332	Fresno, CA	30.4	294-339	Large 53	1.0	1.5	0.7	13	8.3
333	Casper, WY	30.1	301-363	Small 156	0.0	4.2	0.0	1	8.3
334	Farmington, NM	30.0	282-372	Small 157	2.5	1.6	0.0	1	7.2
335	Paducah, KY-IL	29.9	297-361	Small 158	0.0	1.9	0.0	1	10.8
336	Yakima, WA	29.8	298-364	Mid-size 125	0.0	1.7	1.2	4	7.9
337	El Paso, TX	29.8	277-342	Mid-size 126	1.6	0.8	0.9	7	8.9
338	Punta Gorda, FL	29.4	291-364	Small 159	1.9	1.4	0.0	0	13.2
339	Twin Falls, ID	28.9	303-359	Small 160	0.0	2.1	0.0	1	7.7
340	Bay City, MI	28.9	307-362	Small 161	0.0	2.3	0.0	1	7.5
341	Vallejo, CA	28.5	276-349	Mid-size 127	0.9	2.0	1.3	3	9.4
342	Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	28.1	283-365	Small 162	1.7	2.3	0.0	1	7.0
343	Carson City, NV	28.1	320-371	Small 163	0.0	2.1	0.0	1	8.3
344	Victoria, TX	27.9	321-369	Small 164	0.0	1.7	0.0	2	8.9
345	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	27.4	300-358	Mid-size 128	1.7	1.1	0.0	3	11.7
346	Laredo, TX	27.1	269-362	Mid-size 129	1.4	1.1	1.4	2	6.5
347	Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	27.1	315-347	Large 54	0.8	2.0	1.0	14	9.8
348	Sebring, FL	27.0	305-377	Small 165	0.0	1.4	2.7	1	6.6
349	Port St. Lucie, FL	26.9	307-354	Mid-size 130	0.5	1.8	0.7	4	12.0
350	Sebastian-Vero Beach-West Vero Corridor, FL	26.9	333-359	Small 166	0.0	1.8	0.0	0	15.1
351	Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA	26.7	326-363	Small 167	0.0	3.4	0.0	2	6.4
352	Midland, TX	25.7	305-371	Small 168	0.0	1.0	2.1	1	10.5
353	Monroe, MI	25.4	324-362	Small 169	0.0	2.8	0.0	1	8.7
354	Merced, CA	24.7	291-365	Mid-size 131	1.0	0.9	1.0	2	4.7
355	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	24.6	336-355	Large 55	0.8	1.2	0.6	38	9.2
356	Anniston-Oxford, AL	24.5	333-370	Small 170	0.0	1.7	0.0	1	6.5
357	Dalton, GA	24.2	307-377	Small 171	2.0	0.6	0.0	1	8.8
358	Wildwood-The Villages, FL	23.7	346-368	Small 172	0.0	1.7	0.0	0	14.4
359	Vineland, NJ	23.1	326-378	Small 173	0.0	1.3	2.6	1	7.2
360	Visalia, CA	22.9	322-367	Mid-size 132	0.6	0.8	1.4	3	6.0
361	Albany, OR	22.6	338-371	Small 174	0.0	1.8	0.0	1	6.3
362	Sumter, SC	22.0	354-378	Small 175	0.0	0.9	0.0	3	7.1
363	Bakersfield-Delano, CA	21.8	336-365	Mid-size 133	0.6	0.8	0.9	7	7.0
364	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	21.4	336-367	Mid-size 134	1.1	1.8	0.4	6	8.3
365	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	21.1	337-365	Mid-size 135	0.9	1.6	0.5	5	6.8
366	Grants Pass, OR	21.0	350-380	Small 176	0.0	1.2	0.0	1	7.2
367	Rocky Mount, NC	20.5	362-381	Small 177	0.0	1.5	0.0	3	6.1
368	Panama City-Panama City Beach, FL	20.2	333-376	Small 178	0.0	0.8	1.3	1	9.5
369	Modesto, CA	19.5	343-370	Mid-size 136	0.7	1.4	0.5	3	6.4
370	Killeen-Temple, TX	19.5	339-373	Mid-size 137	1.2	1.4	0.0	4	9.0
371	Odessa, TX	19.4	357-380	Small 179	0.0	1.3	0.0	2	7.1
372	Jacksonville, NC	16.9	361-382	Small 180	0.0	1.3	0.0	2	9.7
373	Ocala, FL	16.2	357-378	Mid-size 138	0.7	1.3	0.0	3	8.9
374	Wichita Falls, TX	15.8	362-382	Small 181	0.0	1.2	0.0	1	7.0
375	Stockton-Lodi, CA	15.7	366-378	Mid-size 139	0.0	0.9	0.5	6	8.0
376	Homosassa Springs, FL	15.1	371-383	Small 182	0.0	1.4	0.0	0	8.9
377	Lawton, OK	15.0	365-384	Small 183	0.0	1.2	0.0	1	7.5
378	El Centro, CA	14.9	367-382	Small 184	0.0	0.9	0.0	1	5.1
379	Yuma, AZ	14.5	367-382	Small 185	0.0	2.0	0.0	1	6.6
380	Decatur, AL	13.1	376-385	Small 186	0.0	0.8	0.0	0	8.3
381	Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ	12.6	372-384	Small 187	0.0	1.6	0.0	1	4.7
382	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	11.9	373-384	Mid-size 140	0.0	1.8	0.0	3	7.0
383	Hanford-Corcoran, CA	11.4	372-386	Small 188	0.0	0.9	0.0	1	5.7
384	Enid, OK	10.3	377-386	Small 189	0.0	1.8	0.0	0	7.8
385	Yuba City, CA	8.7	376-387	Small 190	0.0	0.8	0.0	1	6.8
386	Hinesville, GA	8.1	382-387	Small 191	0.0	1.1	0.0	0	5.7
387	Eagle Pass, TX	7.2	384-387	Small 192	0.0	0.6	0.0	0	3.9

04 Which metros are intellectual deserts?

The 39 metro areas in the bottom 10% of the index, home to 15.7 million people. They have few or no bookstores and museums, libraries that are less used, few colleges, and fewer adults with graduate degrees than most of the country. 24 of the 39 are in the South and 13 in the West, led by California (9), Florida (7) and Texas (7). Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA, with 4.7 million people, is the largest. Eagle Pass, TX ranks last.

Figure 4

The 20 lowest-scoring metro areas, 2026

Index score, 0 to 100. All 20 are among the 39 intellectual deserts (ranks 349 to 387).

Panama City, FL20.2

Modesto, CA19.5

Killeen, TX19.5

Odessa, TX19.4

Jacksonville, NC16.9

Ocala, FL16.2

Wichita Falls, TX15.8

Stockton, CA15.7

Homosassa Springs, FL15.1

Lawton, OK15.0

El Centro, CA14.9

Yuma, AZ14.5

Decatur, AL13.1

Lake Havasu City, AZ12.6

Brownsville, TX11.9

Hanford, CA11.4

Enid, OK10.3

Yuba City, CA8.7

Hinesville, GA8.1

Eagle Pass, TX7.2

A low score is not a verdict on the people who live there. The deserts are also growing faster than other metros: their populations rose by a median 3.5% from 2020 to 2025, against 2.3% for the other metros ^[5]. More Americans are moving into places with few bookstores, museums and colleges for their size.

05 Which big, mid-size and small metros rank best?

Size does not decide the score: across all 387 metros, the index and population are almost unrelated (rank correlation 0.09). But the very top belongs to small places with a large university or college, which tend to have more libraries, bookshops and graduate-degree holders per resident. To give every local paper a fair comparison, each metro also has a rank within its size group: Boston, MA leads the 55 large metros, Portland, ME the 140 mid-size metros and Amherst-Northampton, MA the 192 small ones.

Figure 5

Where large, mid-size and small metros fall on the index

Number of metros in each band of the national ranking, by population.

Top 30%Middle 40%Lower 20%Bottom 10% (deserts)

Large metros55 metros, 1 million+25%56%16%

Mid-size metros140 metros, 250,000 to 1 million29%44%19%

Small metros192 metros, under 250,00032%33%21%14%

Table 2

The top 10 in each size group

Large = 1 million people or more; mid-size = 250,000 to 1 million; small = under 250,000 (Census estimates, July 2024).

In group	Metro area	Size group	National	Score
1	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	Large	14	82.3
2	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	Large	22	78.0
3	Rochester, NY	Large	28	75.2
4	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	Large	46	71.5
5	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	Large	52	69.9
6	Richmond, VA	Large	55	69.4
7	Pittsburgh, PA	Large	58	69.1
8	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	Large	62	68.3
9	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	Large	82	64.7
10	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	Large	96	62.2
1	Portland-South Portland, ME	Mid-size	7	85.0
2	Ann Arbor, MI	Mid-size	16	80.6
3	San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA	Mid-size	19	79.0
4	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	Mid-size	23	77.7
5	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	Mid-size	24	76.4
6	Norwich-New London-Willimantic, CT	Mid-size	25	75.8
7	Asheville, NC	Mid-size	27	75.2
8	Trenton-Princeton, NJ	Mid-size	29	74.8
9	Lexington-Fayette, KY	Mid-size	31	74.2
10	Syracuse, NY	Mid-size	32	74.1
1	Amherst-Northampton, MA	Small	1	96.6
2	Pittsfield, MA	Small	2	90.5
3	Ithaca, NY	Small	3	89.7
4	Kingston, NY	Small	4	88.2
5	Walla Walla, WA	Small	5	87.4
6	Ames, IA	Small	6	85.7
7	Flagstaff, AZ	Small	8	84.6
8	Manhattan, KS	Small	9	84.2
9	Burlington-South Burlington, VT	Small	10	83.7
10	Barnstable, MA	Small	11	82.8

06 Which parts of the country have the richest intellectual life?

New England, by a wide margin: its typical metro scores 73, against 42 in the West South Central division (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas). The Northeast holds 17 of the top 39 metros; the South holds 24 of the 39 deserts.

Figure 6

The typical metro in each Census division

Median index score of the metros in each of the nine Census divisions (by the metro's first-named state).

New England73.3

Middle Atlantic63.1

West North Central59.5

East North Central55.1

Pacific47.4

Mountain46.3

East South Central45.8

South Atlantic43.5

West South Central41.7

07 Do richer cities have a richer intellectual life?

Only loosely. Metros with higher household incomes tend to score a little higher (rank correlation 0.32), but the link is weak and runs in part through graduate degrees, which pay. Some of the richest metros score low: Stockton, CA has a median household income of $93,038 and is an intellectual desert. College towns such as Blacksburg, VA (21st) rank in the top 10% on modest incomes. This is a link in the data, not a cause in either direction.

Figure 7

Intellectual life and household income, every metro

Each dot is a metro area: median household income (ACS 2024) across, index score up.

Top 10%Other metrosIntellectual deserts

Index score

0255075100

Amherst-Northampton, MABoston, MABlacksburg, VASan Jose, CARiverside, CAStockton, CAEagle Pass, TX

$40k$80k$120k$160k

Median household income, 2024

Rank correlation 0.32: linked, not cause.

08 What does a city's intellectual life consist of?

Five things, weighted equally. The 387 metros hold 22,967 places to read, look and learn that we counted: 10,637 public library branches, 4,685 bookstores, 4,531 museums and historical sites and 3,114 degree-granting colleges with students on campus. Libraries are the most common by far, which is why we also count how much they are used: 750.2 million visits and 1.27 billion physical loans in fiscal 2024 in the metros ^[2].

Figure 8

What the counted venues are made of

Bookstores, museums and historical sites (2023), library branches (FY2024) and colleges (2023-24) in the 387 metro areas.

22,967venues in 387 metros

• Public library branches10,63746%
• Bookstores4,68520%
• Museums and historical sites4,53120%
• Colleges and universities3,11414%

Books (20%)

Bookstores per 100,000 people: establishments with paid staff in industry code 451211, Book stores, in 2023 ^[1].

Libraries (20%)

Public library branches (central libraries and branches that were open) per 100,000 people, library visits per person and physical loans per person, fiscal 2024 ^[2]. Each is a third of the pillar.

Museums (20%)

Museums (712110) and historical sites (712120) with paid staff per 100,000 people, 2023 ^[1].

Colleges (20%)

Degree-granting colleges and universities with students on campus per 100,000 people, and students not enrolled only online per 1,000 people, fall 2023 ^[3]. Half each.

Graduate degrees (20%)

Share of adults 25 and over with a master’s, professional or doctoral degree, ACS 2024 1-year ^[4].

09 How is this different from other smartest-city rankings?

It ranks every metro area, not only the biggest. The closest study, Maxwell Social’s “America’s Most Intellectual Cities” (September 2026), scored the 50 largest metros on similar federal data plus Google searches ^[9]. Among the 50 largest by our population figures, our order is close to theirs: both put Boston first; all five of their top five (Boston, Hartford, San Francisco, Providence and Pittsburgh) are in our top six; both have Fresno, Las Vegas and Riverside as the three lowest. What a 50-metro list cannot show is the rest: Boston, MA, the best big city, ranks 14th nationally, behind 13 smaller places such as Amherst-Northampton, MA, Pittsfield, MA and Ithaca, NY, and 38 of the 39 intellectual deserts are too small to appear on it.

Table 3

The 50 largest metros: their rank among themselves and among all 387

Largest by population, July 2024. Most city rankings stop here.

Of 50	Metro area	Of 387	Score	Population
1	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	14	82.3	5,022,230
2	Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT	22	78.0	1,166,241
3	San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA	46	71.5	4,623,434
4	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	52	69.9	1,701,280
5	Richmond, VA	55	69.4	1,374,727
6	Pittsburgh, PA	58	69.1	2,425,152
7	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	82	64.7	1,976,995
8	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ	96	62.2	20,080,087
9	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	98	62.1	2,853,522
10	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	105	61.2	6,415,518
11	St. Louis, MO-IL	108	60.7	2,811,394
12	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	116	59.7	4,118,815
13	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	118	59.6	6,313,158
14	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	119	59.5	2,299,751
15	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	121	59.4	2,531,245
16	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	126	58.6	3,287,542
17	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	129	58.4	1,572,498
18	Salt Lake City-Murray, UT	135	57.5	1,302,282
19	Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN	137	57.1	2,162,758
20	Cleveland, OH	140	56.7	2,163,236
21	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN	141	56.5	9,411,198
22	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	146	56.1	3,760,895
23	Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	148	56.0	1,175,992
24	Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO	151	55.9	3,081,092
25	Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN	160	55.2	2,183,424
26	Birmingham, AL	166	54.6	1,194,316
27	Columbus, OH	174	53.3	2,220,716
28	Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC	175	53.3	1,793,439
29	Kansas City, MO-KS	182	52.7	2,253,287
30	Raleigh-Cary, NC	194	50.9	1,558,927
31	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	201	50.4	1,345,629
32	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	207	49.3	12,906,895
33	Oklahoma City, OK	214	47.5	1,499,068
34	Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX	218	47.2	2,567,149
35	Louisville, KY-IN	228	45.8	1,395,134
36	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL	244	43.7	6,399,981
37	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	246	43.5	2,884,708
38	Jacksonville, FL	248	43.2	1,759,347
39	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA	259	42.1	6,420,229
40	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	268	41.1	2,459,807
41	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	283	38.4	4,377,045
42	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	287	37.2	8,353,600
43	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	291	36.9	2,774,738
44	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	295	36.6	5,169,873
45	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	305	35.5	2,919,982
46	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	313	34.7	3,405,357
47	Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX	324	32.8	7,777,907
48	Fresno, CA	332	30.4	1,199,830
49	Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV	347	27.1	2,385,746
50	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	355	24.6	4,747,876

10 What else does the index show?

Six more views of the same 387 metros. First, size and money together: each bubble is a metro, placed by median household income and its index score, and sized by its population. Big metros are spread right across the index (Spearman 0.09 between population and score) and richer metros lean only slightly higher (0.32) ^{[4] [5]}. Linked, not cause.

Figure 9

Intellectual life, income and size, every metro

Median household income (ACS 2024 1-year) across, index score up, bubble area = population (2024). The five largest metros are named.

Population100k1M10M

Intellectual Life Index (0 to 100)

0255075100

New York, NYLos Angeles, CAChicago, ILDallas, TXHouston, TX

$50k$70k$90k$110k$130k$150k$170k

Median household income

Second, any metro’s profile. Each axis is one of the five parts of the index, scored 0 to 100 against the other metros; the dashed shape is the United States as a whole on the same scale (where its national rate would sit among the 387 metros). Amherst-Northampton, MA scores 89.5 or more on every part.

Figure 10

Pick a metro: its five parts against the US as a whole

Scores 0 to 100 (the share of the 387 metros below it on that part). United States: the national rate of each measure, from the same sources, placed on the same scale.

Amherst-Northampton, MA (1st)United States as a whole

Choose a metroAbilene, TX (115th)Akron, OH (168th)Albany, GA (312th)Albany, NY (24th)Albany, OR (361st)Albuquerque, NM (227th)Alexandria, LA (237th)Allentown, PA (185th)Altoona, PA (241st)Amarillo, TX (260th)Ames, IA (6th)Amherst-Northampton, MA (1st)Anchorage, AK (177th)Ann Arbor, MI (16th)Anniston, AL (356th)Appleton, WI (224th)Asheville, NC (27th)Athens, GA (77th)Atlanta, GA (259th)Atlantic City, NJ (124th)Auburn, AL (128th)Augusta, GA (327th)Austin, TX (218th)Bakersfield, CA (363rd)Baltimore, MD (98th)Bangor, ME (37th)Barnstable, MA (11th)Baton Rouge, LA (225th)Battle Creek, MI (94th)Bay City, MI (340th)Beaumont, TX (251st)Beckley, WV (256th)Bellingham, WA (53rd)Bend, OR (107th)Billings, MT (144th)Binghamton, NY (67th)Birmingham, AL (166th)Bismarck, ND (300th)Blacksburg, VA (21st)Bloomington, IL (51st)Bloomington, IN (84th)Boise City, ID (240th)Boston, MA (14th)Boulder, CO (36th)Bowling Green, KY (205th)Bozeman, MT (15th)Bremerton, WA (125th)Bridgeport, CT (72nd)Brownsville, TX (382nd)Brunswick, GA (265th)Buffalo, NY (62nd)Burlington, NC (211th)Burlington, VT (10th)Canton, OH (180th)Cape Coral, FL (330th)Cape Girardeau, MO (281st)Carson City, NV (343rd)Casper, WY (333rd)Cedar Rapids, IA (169th)Chambersburg, PA (292nd)Champaign, IL (111th)Charleston, SC (139th)Charleston, WV (200th)Charlotte, NC (246th)Charlottesville, VA (13th)Chattanooga, TN (252nd)Cheyenne, WY (97th)Chicago, IL (141st)Chico, CA (230th)Cincinnati, OH (119th)Clarksville, TN (329th)Cleveland, OH (140th)Cleveland, TN (275th)Coeur d'Alene, ID (288th)College Station, TX (150th)Colorado Springs, CO (90th)Columbia, MO (49th)Columbia, SC (190th)Columbus, GA (293rd)Columbus, IN (239th)Columbus, OH (174th)Corpus Christi, TX (294th)Corvallis, OR (54th)Crestview, FL (263rd)Dallas, TX (287th)Dalton, GA (357th)Daphne, AL (273rd)Davenport, IA (50th)Dayton, OH (64th)Decatur, AL (380th)Decatur, IL (193rd)Deltona, FL (245th)Denver, CO (151st)Des Moines, IA (134th)Detroit, MI (283rd)Dothan, AL (326th)Dover, DE (100th)Dubuque, IA (76th)Duluth, MN (73rd)Durham, NC (57th)Eagle Pass, TX (387th)Eau Claire, WI (65th)El Centro, CA (378th)El Paso, TX (337th)Elizabethtown, KY (317th)Elkhart, IN (249th)Elmira, NY (184th)Enid, OK (384th)Erie, PA (75th)Eugene, OR (60th)Evansville, IN (106th)Fairbanks, AK (79th)Fargo, ND (156th)Farmington, NM (334th)Fayetteville, AR (113th)Fayetteville, NC (311th)Flagstaff, AZ (8th)Flint, MI (331st)Florence, AL (165th)Florence, SC (296th)Fond du Lac, WI (203rd)Fort Collins, CO (87th)Fort Smith, AR (255th)Fort Wayne, IN (213th)Fresno, CA (332nd)Gadsden, AL (280th)Gainesville, FL (101st)Gainesville, GA (284th)Gettysburg, PA (68th)Glens Falls, NY (45th)Goldsboro, NC (316th)Grand Forks, ND (99th)Grand Island, NE (210th)Grand Junction, CO (34th)Grand Rapids, MI (148th)Grants Pass, OR (366th)Great Falls, MT (277th)Greeley, CO (270th)Green Bay, WI (147th)Greensboro, NC (221st)Greenville, NC (173rd)Greenville, SC (219th)Gulfport, MS (282nd)Hagerstown, MD (262nd)Hammond, LA (303rd)Hanford, CA (383rd)Harrisburg, PA (142nd)Harrisonburg, VA (47th)Hartford, CT (22nd)Hattiesburg, MS (192nd)Helena, MT (103rd)Hickory, NC (274th)Hilton Head Island, SC (143rd)Hinesville, GA (386th)Homosassa Springs, FL (376th)Hot Springs, AR (258th)Houma, LA (351st)Houston, TX (324th)Huntington, WV (163rd)Huntsville, AL (154th)Idaho Falls, ID (114th)Indianapolis, IN (160th)Iowa City, IA (30th)Ithaca, NY (3rd)Jackson, MI (267th)Jackson, MS (176th)Jackson, TN (158th)Jacksonville, FL (248th)Jacksonville, NC (372nd)Janesville, WI (328th)Jefferson City, MO (89th)Johnson City, TN (310th)Johnstown, PA (85th)Jonesboro, AR (264th)Joplin, MO (269th)Kahului, HI (271st)Kalamazoo, MI (61st)Kankakee, IL (216th)Kansas City, MO (182nd)Kennewick, WA (279th)Kenosha, WI (149th)Killeen, TX (370th)Kingsport, TN (286th)Kingston, NY (4th)Kiryas Joel, NY (35th)Knoxville, TN (145th)Kokomo, IN (215th)La Crosse, WI (33rd)Lafayette, IN (17th)Lafayette, LA (231st)Lake Charles, LA (307th)Lake Havasu City, AZ (381st)Lakeland, FL (364th)Lancaster, PA (130th)Lansing, MI (83rd)Laredo, TX (346th)Las Cruces, NM (235th)Las Vegas, NV (347th)Lawrence, KS (63rd)Lawton, OK (377th)Lebanon, PA (299th)Lewiston, ID (318th)Lewiston, ME (220th)Lexington Park, MD (314th)Lexington, KY (31st)Lima, OH (162nd)Lincoln, NE (70th)Little Rock, AR (197th)Logan, UT (243rd)Longview, TX (302nd)Longview, WA (290th)Los Angeles, CA (207th)Louisville, KY-IN (228th)Lubbock, TX (206th)Lynchburg, VA (78th)Macon, GA (202nd)Madison, WI (59th)Manchester, NH (110th)Manhattan, KS (9th)Mankato, MN (104th)Mansfield, OH (320th)McAllen, TX (365th)Medford, OR (181st)Memphis, TN (201st)Merced, CA (354th)Miami, FL (244th)Michigan City, IN (319th)Midland, MI (157th)Midland, TX (352nd)Milwaukee, WI (129th)Minneapolis, MN (146th)Minot, ND (91st)Missoula, MT (18th)Mobile, AL (278th)Modesto, CA (369th)Monroe, LA (155th)Monroe, MI (353rd)Montgomery, AL (189th)Morgantown, WV (95th)Morristown, TN (254th)Mount Vernon, WA (133rd)Muncie, IN (93rd)Muskegon, MI (342nd)Myrtle Beach, SC (257th)Napa, CA (74th)Naples, FL (321st)Nashville, TN (137th)New Haven, CT (40th)New Orleans, LA (66th)New York, NY (96th)Niles, MI (38th)North Port, FL (285th)Norwich, CT (25th)Ocala, FL (373rd)Odessa, TX (371st)Ogden, UT (272nd)Oklahoma City, OK (214th)Olympia, WA (306th)Omaha, NE (131st)Orlando, FL (305th)Oshkosh, WI (209th)Owensboro, KY (196th)Oxnard, CA (229th)Paducah, KY (335th)Palm Bay, FL (253rd)Panama City, FL (368th)Parkersburg, WV (247th)Pensacola, FL (345th)Peoria, IL (187th)Philadelphia, PA (118th)Phoenix, AZ (295th)Pinehurst, NC (198th)Pittsburgh, PA (58th)Pittsfield, MA (2nd)Pocatello, ID (250th)Port St. Lucie, FL (349th)Portland, ME (7th)Portland, OR (121st)Prescott Valley, AZ (39th)Providence, RI (52nd)Provo, UT (195th)Pueblo, CO (301st)Punta Gorda, FL (338th)Racine, WI (297th)Raleigh, NC (194th)Rapid City, SD (88th)Reading, PA (170th)Redding, CA (289th)Reno, NV (242nd)Richmond, VA (55th)Riverside, CA (355th)Roanoke, VA (122nd)Rochester, MN (81st)Rochester, NY (28th)Rockford, IL (233rd)Rocky Mount, NC (367th)Rome, GA (223rd)Sacramento, CA (268th)Saginaw, MI (276th)Salem, OR (298th)Salinas, CA (136th)Salisbury, MD (152nd)Salt Lake City, UT (135th)San Angelo, TX (222nd)San Antonio, TX (291st)San Diego, CA (126th)San Francisco, CA (46th)San Jose, CA (82nd)San Luis Obispo, CA (19th)Sandusky, OH (112th)Santa Cruz, CA (42nd)Santa Fe, NM (12th)Santa Maria, CA (23rd)Santa Rosa, CA (71st)Savannah, GA (123rd)Scranton, PA (183rd)Seattle, WA (116th)Sebastian, FL (350th)Sebring, FL (348th)Sheboygan, WI (117th)Sherman, TX (212th)Shreveport, LA (208th)Sierra Vista, AZ (80th)Sioux City, IA (178th)Sioux Falls, SD (236th)Slidell, LA (315th)South Bend, IN (41st)Spartanburg, SC (261st)Spokane, WA (159th)Springfield, IL (204th)Springfield, MA (120th)Springfield, MO (138th)Springfield, OH (234th)St. Cloud, MN (132nd)St. George, UT (199th)St. Joseph, MO (186th)St. Louis, MO (108th)State College, PA (20th)Staunton, VA (48th)Stockton, CA (375th)Sumter, SC (362nd)Syracuse, NY (32nd)Tallahassee, FL (92nd)Tampa, FL (313th)Terre Haute, IN (109th)Texarkana, TX (323rd)Toledo, OH (86th)Topeka, KS (167th)Traverse City, MI (26th)Trenton, NJ (29th)Tucson, AZ (179th)Tulsa, OK (217th)Tuscaloosa, AL (191st)Twin Falls, ID (339th)Tyler, TX (226th)Urban Honolulu, HI (232nd)Utica, NY (44th)Valdosta, GA (188th)Vallejo, CA (341st)Victoria, TX (344th)Vineland, NJ (359th)Virginia Beach, VA (175th)Visalia, CA (360th)Waco, TX (164th)Walla Walla, WA (5th)Warner Robins, GA (238th)Washington, DC (105th)Waterbury, CT (322nd)Waterloo, IA (43rd)Watertown, NY (127th)Wausau, WI (304th)Weirton, WV (308th)Wenatchee, WA (171st)Wheeling, WV (69th)Wichita Falls, TX (374th)Wichita, KS (161st)Wildwood, FL (358th)Williamsport, PA (309th)Wilmington, NC (153rd)Winchester, VA (56th)Winston, NC (172nd)Worcester, MA (102nd)Yakima, WA (336th)York, PA (325th)Youngstown, OH (266th)Yuba City, CA (385th)Yuma, AZ (379th)

Bookstores98.8US 47.0Libraries98.0US 58.6Museums89.5US 61.8Colleges97.8US 54.5Graduate degrees98.8US 70.0

Third, size groups. The typical small metro scores 48.4, the typical mid-size metro 52.7 and the typical large metro 55.2. The spread is wide in every group: small metros run from 7.2 to 96.6, mid-size from 11.9 to 85.0 and large from 24.6 to 82.3. Every dot is one metro: hover for its name.

Figure 11

Index scores by metro size

Box = the middle half of each group, line = the median metro, whiskers = lowest to highest. Dotted line: the median of all 387 metros.

Middle halfMedianLowest to highestOne metro

Large (1 million+)55 metros55.2

Mid-size (250,000 to 1 million)140 metros52.7

Small (under 250,000)192 metros48.4

020406080100

Dotted line: the median metro, 50.9.

Fourth, the top 30 part by part. Darker cells are higher scores. 5 of the 30 score below 50 on at least one part: a high rank needs breadth, not one standout.

Figure 12

The top 30 metros, part by part

Each part scored 0 to 100 against all 387 metros; the last column is the index.

0100

BookstoresBooksLibrariesLibr.MuseumsMus.CollegesColl.GraduateGrad.IndexIndex1. Amherst-Northampton, MA98.898.089.597.898.896.62. Pittsfield, MA99.192.599.672.189.090.53. Ithaca, NY92.677.580.298.399.989.74. Kingston, NY97.384.097.575.586.488.25. Walla Walla, WA99.464.694.293.085.787.46. Ames, IA93.296.485.961.691.385.77. Portland, ME91.388.097.358.989.585.08. Flagstaff, AZ99.969.678.792.482.384.69. Manhattan, KS67.877.496.092.187.584.210. Burlington, VT78.788.884.473.493.483.711. Barnstable, MA98.698.899.920.396.382.812. Santa Fe, NM92.467.899.456.597.582.713. Charlottesville, VA90.368.591.963.498.682.514. Boston, MA73.379.390.371.897.082.315. Bozeman, MT96.566.493.759.092.181.516. Ann Arbor, MI96.080.753.972.699.680.617. Lafayette, IN90.176.491.665.976.480.118. Missoula, MT86.278.391.153.589.879.819. San Luis Obispo, CA82.371.490.868.981.579.020. State College, PA98.142.960.996.695.078.721. Blacksburg, VA97.858.155.994.885.978.522. Hartford, CT71.486.182.659.290.678.023. Santa Maria, CA80.044.996.389.377.977.724. Albany, NY46.474.684.683.193.276.425. Norwich, CT74.876.090.657.080.775.826. Traverse City, MI98.391.898.612.077.175.627. Asheville, NC95.065.671.757.286.775.228. Rochester, NY62.983.072.574.982.875.229. Trenton, NJ50.867.783.376.296.074.830. Iowa City, IA81.586.256.252.196.574.5

Fifth, how the five parts move together across all 387 metros. The closest pair is Graduate degrees and Bookstores (r = 0.42); the loosest is Museums and Bookstores (r = 0.23). No two parts measure the same thing, which is why each counts for a fifth.

Figure 13

How the five parts of the index move together

Pearson correlation of the part scores across the 387 metros: +1 = always rise together, 0 = no link.

-1 (opposite)+1 (move together)

BookstoresBooksLibrariesLibr.MuseumsMus.CollegesColl.Libraries+0.24Museums+0.23+0.39Colleges+0.28+0.29+0.25Graduate degrees+0.42+0.35+0.23+0.26

Sixth, how the scores spread. The median metro scores 50.9; the most common band is 55 to 60 (49 metros).

Figure 14

How the scores spread: all 387 metros

Number of metros in each 5-point band of the index (0 to 100). Dotted line: the median metro.

38815192532443141493328231110511median 50.9

0102030405060708090100

Intellectual Life Index, 0 to 100

11 Your metro, in one sentence

Pick a metro area to see its rank, its rank among metros of its size and the counts behind its score. Every metro has its own link and a card you can download or share.

12 Does this measure how smart people are?

No. It measures the places: what a metro offers anyone who wants to read, learn or look at history and art, and how many of its adults went on to graduate study. It says nothing about the intelligence of any resident. For test scores and degrees by state, see the smartest states in America; for what state IQ figures can and cannot show, see average IQ by state; for how schooling and test scores relate, see IQ by education level and reading and IQ.

13 How was the index built?

1. 01

   Who is ranked

   All 387 metropolitan statistical areas in the 50 states and the District of Columbia, as the Office of Management and Budget drew them in July 2023 ^[6]. Puerto Rico’s metros are left out: its libraries did not answer the FY2024 library survey.

2. 02

   Five pillars

   Books, libraries, museums, colleges and graduate degrees, 20% each, measured per resident with the Census Bureau’s July 2024 population estimates ^[5]. Counts are summed over each metro’s counties.

3. 03

   Rates become percentiles

   Each of the eight rates is turned into a percentile among the 387 metros, so one extreme value cannot swamp the rest. A pillar is the average of its rates; the index is the average of the pillars, from 0 to 100.

4. 04

   Libraries where the branches are

   A library system reports its visits and loans once. Where a system runs branches in several counties (179 systems do), we shared its totals over its branches by their opening hours and counted each share in the branch’s county ^[2].

5. 05

   Colleges where the students are

   Only degree-granting colleges with students on campus count, with their students not enrolled only online; 184 online-only institutions are left out, so an online university does not make its home city look like a college town ^[3].

6. 06

   Bands

   The top 10% of metros (ranks 1 to 39) and the bottom 10% (349 to 387), the intellectual deserts; the middle is split 20/40/20.

7. 07

   Uncertainty and checks

   We redrew the counts of bookstores, museums and historical sites, library branches and colleges as Poisson draws and the graduate share from its ACS margin of error, 2,000 times (visits, loans and students stay as reported), and give each metro the range its rank fell in 90% of draws. Dropping any one pillar keeps the ranks close (rank correlation 0.949 or more); scoring with log z-scores instead of percentiles gives 0.988.