While Ann Arbor residents don’t need rankings to tell them what they already know, a group of 2020 rankings has shone a spotlight on the city’s excellence.
Its rating as the No. 1 Most Educated City in America is based on a comparison by WalletHub of the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas, across 11 key metrics. The data set ranges from the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the quality of the public school system to the gender education gap.
Best Cities included Tree Town in its list of America’s Top 10 Best Small Cities, noting it is one of the smartest small cities in the country and a bastion of employment security and safety.
And Ann Arbor scored spots in not one, but two, Livability rankings. In naming the city No. 2 of the Best Places to Live — behind only Fort Collins, Colorado — the ranking stated that “you’ll find smart, passionate people who are pushing the boundaries in everything from cybersecurity to craft beer.” A2 also placed No. 2 in Livability’s ranking of Top 8 Up-and-Coming Small Cities Close to Major Metro Areas, behind Castle Rock, Colorado. (Livability apparently has a soft spot for mountain views.) The ranking cited Ann Arbor for its small-town charm and collegiate charisma.
