Earlier this week, Zipcar published its Future Metropolis Index. To develop the Index, the company teamed up with KRC Research to rank the top 36 most populated U.S. cities on five factors: sustainability, innovation, vibrancy, efficiency, and livability. See the top 10 cities and their corresponding scores below.
Here's how the cities break down in the five sub-categories:
- In the innovation category, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and Boston top the list.
- Tuscon, Arizona, Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco are best in sustainability.
- San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., lead in vibrancy/creativity.
- The most efficient cities are Washington, D.C., New York, and Boston.
- For livability, El Paso, Texas, New York, and San Diego take top honors.
The study also found that Americans who live in metro areas are more optimistic about job opportunities than those living outside them.
The ranking and survey make sense for Zipcar, a company that provides car-sharing services to urban dwellers.
"The results of our Future Metropolis Index make a powerful statement about an urban renaissance that we see is clearly underway," Scott Griffith, chairman and CEO of Zipcar, said in a press release. "U.S. cities are growing and evolving and are more dynamic than ever before. This rebirth of our cities is being powered by technology and innovation coupled with smart urban policy which together work to enhance the lives of their residents."
1. San Francisco, California
Innovation: #7
Sustainability: #3
Vibrancy/Creativity: #1
Efficiency: #5 (tie)
Livability/Optimism: #4
Image courtesy of Flickr user Laughing Squid
2. Seattle, Washington
Innovation: #8
Sustainability: #5 (tie)
Vibrancy/Creativity: #2 (tie)
Efficiency: #8
Livability/Optimism: #6 (tie)
Image courtesy of Flickr user mediafury
3. Washington, D.C.
Innovation: #4
Sustainability: #7 (tie)
Vibrancy/Creativity: #2 (tie)
Efficiency: #1
Livability/Optimism: #24 (tie)
Image courtesy of Flickr user dannyfowler
4. Portland, Oregon
Innovation: #6
Sustainability: #2
Vibrancy/Creativity: #4
Efficiency: #11
Livability/Optimism: #10
Image courtesy of Flickr user C.M. Keiner
5. Boston, Massachusetts
Innovation: #3
Sustainability: #15
Vibrancy/Creativity: #9 (tie)
Efficiency: #3
Livability/Optimism: #6 (tie)
Image courtesy of Flickr user Werner Kunz
6. New York City
Innovation: #15
Sustainability: #11
Vibrancy/Creativity: #7
Efficiency: #2
Livability/Optimism: #2
Image courtesy of Flickr user andrew c mace
7. Atlanta, Georgia
Innovation: #1
Sustainability: #17 (tie)
Vibrancy/Creativity: #5 (tie)
Efficiency: #4
Livability/Optimism: #32
Image courtesy of Flickr user Stuck in Customs
8. Denver, Colorado
Innovation: #5
Sustainability: #14
Vibrancy/Creativity: #13
Efficiency: #13
Livability/Optimism: #6 (tie)
Image courtesy of Flickr user mattsantomarco
9. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Innovation: #2
Sustainability: #23 (tie)
Vibrancy/Creativity: #14 (tie)
Efficiency: #9
Livability/Optimism: #13 (tie)
Image courtesy of Flickr user jiuguangw
10. (Tie) Austin, Texas
Innovation: #19
Sustainability: #5 (tie)
Vibrancy/Creativity: #9 (tie)
Efficiency: #18 (tie)
Livability/Optimism: #5
Image courtesy of Flickr user joshpatten
10. (Tie) San Diego, California
Innovation: #16 (tie)
Sustainability: #9
Vibrancy/Creativity: #8
Efficiency: #17
Livability/Optimism: #3
Image courtesy of Flickr user Nick Chill Photography
Reprinted with permission from The Atlantic Cities. Copyright 2012 by The Atlantic Monthly Group.