8 Thriving Tech Cities (That Arent San Francisco)

8 Thriving Tech Cities (That Arent San Francisco) 8 Thriving Tech Cities (That Aren't San Francisco) Do you dream in code, speak in algorithms, and bask in data?  Are you young, eager, and desperate to work in tech?  You know San Francisco is Startup City, as well as home to giants like Google and Facebook. But you dont want to live in a giant city, or pay super high rents, or move far away from your family. San Francisco gets all the tech love but plenty of other cities have thriving tech communities and municipal  infrastructures that supports entrepreneurs.  These cities are stocked with startup tech companies and most have excellent universities in or around the city that will keep the young, tech culture alive for years to come. Raleigh, North Carolina Part of the fabled research triangle, Raleigh is a major tech hub in the southeast United States. North Carolina State is located directly in the city and is very tech-focused. In fact, in 2014, 23 percent of NC State  students chose some type of engineering as their major. In addition to NC State, world class universities like University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Duke (ranked #8 in the country by U.S. News) are both 35-45 minutes away. (In Chapel Hill and Durham, the other two points of the research triangle.) Not only does Raleigh feature some great schools in close proximity, but its also home to a number of both new and established tech companies. Tech companies like LuLu, Citrix ShareFile, and Cree Inc. are all located in Raleigh, making it one of the countrys most desirable tech cities. Burlington, Vermont Burlington is a little different than most tech cities youll find. Its the largest city in Vermont with a population of 42,000. But whats really interesting is that, as of 2014, 100 percent of Burlingtons power comes from renewable resources, like wind and water. Its home to University of Vermont, which ranks highly for their medical programs and is credited as a top 100 school in the United States by U.S. News. BioTek Instruments, LPA Design, and  Reading Plus  are three  tech companies located in or near  Burlington. Cambridge, Massachusetts Part of the Boston metro area,  Cambridge is home to  two of the worlds most prestigious universities, Harvard and MIT.   Mark Zuckerberg founded Facebook in one of the Harvard dorms. Cambridge produces  some of the most innovative and intelligent graduates in the country. Biotech companies like Biogen, Novartis, Genzyme, and Takeda Pharmaceuticals are big employers in Cambridge. In addition, research and development organizations  like Draper Laboratory and the  Broad Institute are located here. Dont forget about the greater Boston area, either, which features plenty of startup tech companies to work for. That said, Boston and Cambridge are currently giving San Francisco a run for its money in the impossibly expensive place to live department. But if you want to pay through the nose on the East Coast rather than the West, then it might be the place for you. Portland, Oregon Portland isnt just for hipsters anymore. Places like San Francisco, Silicon Valley, and Seattle are all well-known for their tech industry. But the cost of living is simply unaffordable for many. While Portland isnt cheap, its definitely less expensive than the major tech hubs. Many people in the tech industry are moving here, and companies are following. In fact, the greater Portland area has been named the Silicon Forest for the many tech companies concentrated in northwest Oregon, many of which are homegrownucdadxrsxtsxuddytv. While Portland doesnt feature a ton of universities, Oregon State and University of Oregon are both within a couple hours drive. Los Angeles, California The westside of Los Angeles is becoming known as Silicon Beach for its dense population of tech-heavy companies. One of the major moves came in 2014, when Google purchased 12 acres in Playa Vista. Other companies like YouTube, BuzzFeed, and Yahoo have opened offices in the region, and many startups are buying old warehouses and buildings to renovate into offices. Some of the newer startups located in this region that you may recognize are Swagbucks, Snapchat, Hulu, and Nasty Gal. The cost of living in this area is still high, so youll probably need to commute from a less expensive suburb. On the education front, California Institute of Technology is located in nearby Pasadena. Its ranked tenth in the country by U.S. News, and 78 percent of students major in engineering, computer sciences, biomedical sciences, and mathematics. Nashville, Tennessee Most of us think of Nashville as the home of country music, but its becoming much more than that. Nashville is quickly turning into one of the hottest tech cities in the South. In the past five years, tech jobs have increased 38 percent in sectors like healthcare and IT. Growing tech companies like LeanKit, ForceX, and Emma are all located in Nashville. Tech accelerator  Jumpstart Foundry has graduated 48 startups from its summer program since its inception six years agoincluding InvisionHeart, a company that created a handheld, FDA-approved ECG machine. Also contributing to  innovative mood around Music City is The Nashville Entrepreneur Center, whose startup accelerator has helped more than 200 companies launch in the last five years. And the music industry itself isnt immune to the disruptive power of the lean new startupsmany of Nashvilles new entrepreneurs are taking aim at the inefficiencies of the citys biggest business. Nashville also boasts one of the countrys most highly regarded universities in Vanderbilt, along with  the less well-known (but still excellent) Belmont University.  If that wasnt enough, Nashville is well-known for its music scene and nightlife, as well as plenty of outdoor activities like hiking, waterskiing, and boating. Atlanta, Georgia Atlanta is thriving in a lot of ways.  The city has grown more than 25 percent in the last decade and a half, adding more than a million newcomers to the city burned to the ground by General Sherman during his march  to the sea in 1864. Theyre also putting a lot of money back into the city to make it more desirable for young professionals, with developments like the Atlanta Beltline Trail. The Metro Atlanta Chamber just launched the first council for young professionals under 40. Its also becoming a startup hotspot. The Atlanta Tech Village offers office space for companies as small as one person, and is designed to be an affordable place for startups to get their businesses rolling. Startups get things like office space, parking, mailboxes, conference rooms, WiFi, and other amenities without taking on the significant overhead for themselves. The Tech Village currently houses over 170 startups and counting. According to Entrepreneur, one of Atlantas major advantages as a tech hub is the easy access new startups have to big, established corporations  based in the city,  like Coca-Cola and UPS. Atlanta is home to more than 400 Fortune 500 companies. Add in the presence of prestigious universities like Georgia Tech and Emory, and it becomes clear that Atlantas startups have an abundant supply of both potential customers and potential employees. This means Atlantas startups are more focused on revenue and sustainability, and thus less likely to go bust following sky-high valuations and hype. Atlanta is home to well-known mass emailer (and podcast sponsor extraordinaire) Mailchimp, as well as the finance startup Kabbage, which specializes in online lending to small businesses. Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis is a visual gem of the midwest. Its full of beautiful architecture and has plenty of trails and parks for the outdoor enthusiast. But what about those looking for a tech culture? Believe it or not, youll find it in Indy. Indianapolis is home to over 150 tech companies, including Salesforce, Angies List, and Mobi. An organization called TechPoint is also headquartered here. Their mission is to promote and accelerate the growth of Indianas tech community through various programs and initiatives. This type of group will ensure that there are tech companies and jobs in Indianapolis for the foreseeable future. For education, youll find Butler University located directly in Indianapolis. Summary While the cost of living will vary between these areas, they all have one thing in commontheyre bursting with tech. With universities nearby, as well as both new and established tech companies right in the heart of the city, these places will allow you to cultivate a long and successful career. If youre still looking for colleges and want to get into the tech world, consider the schools in these cities. If youve already graduated and are open to relocating, most of the startups and tech companies I mentioned are hiring right now, so check out the career sections of their websites today. Read more: The Best Cities In America For Young Adults To Get Rich Where You Live Matters: 10 Cities With Affordable Housing And High Wages