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Seattle outranks San Francisco for title of geekiest (and smartest) people

February 7, 2012 at 2:46 pm by 6 Comments

A Seattle rainbow

San Francisco may have better restaurants, weather, shopping and cocktails. But here’s one area where Seattle outshines the city by the bay.

According to a survey by Travel + Leisure magazine, Seattle has the most tech-savvy people in the country. Yep, we’re geekier in Seattle than our counterparts in San Francisco (which actually finished second). Seattle also is #1 when it comes to wireless coverage, ahead of Salt Lake City, Kansas City, Portland and Austin, and #1 in terms of intelligence.

The Travel + Leisure survey looked at a number of factors beyond tech, with a cool online tool that allows users to do a side-by-side comparison of two cities.

As you’ll see in the face-off between San Fran and Seattle, we lose in most categories. (Hey, in addition to tech, we’re still kicking ass in terms of flea markets, cleanliness and, of course, coffee).

Click on image for full comparison

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  • Guest

    Congratulations to Seattle on defeating San Francisco!

  • http://www.intrinsicstrategy.com/ FrankCatalano

    So does that mean the entrepreneurs who have relocated recently from Seattle to San Francisco become more … normal?

  • SEACA31

    Not so sure about that…People up here don’t seem as bright as they think they are.

  • http://thenameinspector.com/ Christopher Johnson

    Maybe intelligence was self-reported.

  • http://twitter.com/RedRussak ‘Red’ Russak

    Channeling my youth, I remember being taught NOT to compare thyself to others. On the other hand, if it proves we’re more Geeky, then I guess there’s a benefit after all.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Donovan-Kliegg/100001187341261 Donovan Kliegg

    +1 for regional rivalry.

    I live in both places and without a doubt the coffee and wireless are a magnitude better in the sound.  The entrepreneur community is far more pleasant too.  Geek wise, the tech events are the same, and the quality of geek is the same.  There is no reason I can’t just stay down in California full time, but I’d miss Seattle way too much to be satisfied with that.  Totally worth it to keep an apartment here.  Not having to pay CA personal income tax almost covers the whole cost, even with the WA B&O tax.