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2024 Best of the Midwest: Startup City RankingsStartup EnvironmentAccess to ResourcesBusiness Climate
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43.539.017.5
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Startup ActivityTalentInvestor PresenceAccelerators/IncubatorsGovernmentCostDemographicsConnectivity
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Overall RankTotal ScoreStartupsStartup DensityStartup MomentumExitsExit PropensityBig OutcomesPatentsBig CompaniesUniversity EcosystemEducated WorkforceVCsAverage # VC DealsCapital InvestedAngelsAccelerators/IncubatorsLoansGov ProgramsLabor CostsCost of LivingTax ClimatePopulationGDPAirportsPopulation ReachInternet Access
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CityStateIncluding#1 (Highest) - #6425 variables each multiplied by an individual weight# Startups# of Statups / Population% Change in # Startups in the Last 5 Years# Exits# of Exits / # of Startups# and Size of Big Exits and Big Raises (>$50M)# Utility patents in a year (Raw + per Capita)# Fortune 500 companiesExpert Ranking & # IP Patents Received% Population w/ at least a bachelor's degree# VC InvestorsAverage # Deals per VCTotal $ Invested in each Metro by VC's# Angel Groups & Angel Investors# Accelerators & IncubatorsSmall Business Loans (Absolute & per Capita)Expert AssessmentMedian Annual SalaryRegional Price ParitiesTax Climate Ranking# City InhabitantsGDP per capitaNearest major airport: distance & # nonstop flights# Interstate Highways & Population in 125-mile radius% of Households with Internet
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ChicagoIL
Evanston, Aurora, Joliet, Elgin, Naperville, Schaumburg, Orland Park, Downers Grove, Arlington Heights, Waukegan, Hammond, IN and Gary, IN
154.164.019.164.064.018.264.064.064.064.033.564.010.264.064.064.024.951.019.40.010.764.060.064.064.042.5
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MinneapolisMN
Saint Paul, Bloomington, Burnsville, Minnetonka, Edina, Maple Grove, Coon Rapids, Eden Prairie
237.638.815.037.840.818.341.355.948.336.240.642.815.743.652.062.527.141.43.59.40.041.357.042.211.955.3
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IndianapolisIN
Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, Zionsville, Greenwood, Avon
333.733.218.934.342.128.020.915.823.610.927.540.218.331.644.848.816.662.927.940.351.831.255.811.929.440.8
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PittsburghPA
Monroeville, Moon, Mt Lebanon, Bethel Park, Penn Hills
431.536.219.025.937.317.130.922.832.542.826.640.517.036.046.236.35.429.027.139.819.834.341.315.023.628.4
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ColumbusOH
Gahanna, Westerville, Dublin, Grove City
529.927.411.718.029.417.232.212.234.527.631.440.010.740.347.627.75.744.925.139.312.231.545.811.926.850.4
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DetroitMI
Warren, Sterling Heights, Troy, Livonia, Dearborn
629.827.55.120.827.113.929.355.830.410.821.634.215.432.439.740.42.334.322.132.250.344.637.530.326.139.4
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Ann ArborMI729.125.064.026.023.111.425.455.74.326.164.039.25.830.835.520.40.034.319.727.150.310.352.830.318.364.0
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MadisonWI
Fitchburg, Sun Prairie, Middleton
729.127.540.730.934.124.715.311.715.627.848.630.615.730.136.340.451.247.015.934.930.516.257.54.118.955.9
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St. LouisMO
Clayton, Chesterfield, Florissant, St. Charles, Creve Coeur, Maryland Heights, Hazelwood, Ferguson and Belleville, IL
928.932.113.018.942.129.922.814.636.528.127.338.79.934.442.732.39.422.426.630.448.835.842.918.714.339.3
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CincinnatiOH
Hamilton, Mason, Northgate, Sharonville, Covington, KY and Newport, KY
1027.427.010.829.224.511.214.827.229.318.225.935.315.430.143.740.416.344.927.341.112.232.250.913.231.142.1
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Kansas CityMO
Olathe, Independence, Overland Park, KS
1125.326.210.316.425.913.726.58.46.84.230.536.410.127.639.730.64.322.424.945.548.831.844.414.09.547.7
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LouisvilleKY
Jeffersontown, Jeffersonville, IN, Clarksville, IN and New Albany, IN
1224.724.415.225.329.421.713.67.618.59.619.533.821.323.544.324.40.943.730.145.039.624.433.19.825.432.3
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ClevelandOH
Parma, Elyria, Shaker Heights, Lorain, Lakewood, Cleveland Heights
1324.325.19.613.323.111.216.620.628.214.521.836.07.125.738.420.44.044.924.842.412.231.343.311.143.827.3
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BloomingtonIN1423.812.638.152.114.914.26.82.30.020.638.520.848.817.833.930.60.062.931.742.851.84.621.65.712.346.3
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MilwaukeeWI
Racine, Waukesha, Menomonee Falls, Oak Creek
1523.123.210.117.917.56.60.020.433.56.627.634.68.321.640.444.64.047.023.636.230.528.042.07.838.833.4
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OmahaNE
Bellevue, La Vista, Council Bluffs, IA
1622.020.013.931.411.33.09.03.427.19.130.031.617.720.826.230.60.039.726.445.821.320.256.07.83.146.4
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LafayetteINWest Lafayette1721.512.827.214.411.37.09.07.84.328.323.920.854.914.20.018.80.062.934.046.351.86.727.75.721.446.8
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LincolnNE1821.416.830.122.314.98.314.21.90.013.333.722.345.727.231.024.48.639.727.746.021.39.841.60.32.954.6
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LexingtonKY1920.714.113.48.317.517.517.13.66.811.833.027.411.215.533.023.11.643.731.348.739.613.435.53.611.048.9
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FargoND2020.013.726.510.511.36.20.02.40.04.635.123.621.918.714.428.717.861.824.759.741.17.838.92.31.449.5
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South BendINElkhart, Notre Dame2119.613.111.218.20.00.00.03.312.58.48.623.620.117.420.820.44.162.936.345.451.813.643.69.423.126.2
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ColumbiaMO2219.29.316.013.40.00.017.32.10.013.444.118.836.630.540.420.41.122.436.359.448.86.423.15.97.249.0
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ChampaignILUrbana2319.015.035.710.111.35.25.88.10.025.240.824.715.217.20.021.80.051.025.548.410.77.026.53.629.149.2
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AkronOH
Canton, Cuyahoga Falls, Massillon and Kent
2418.914.86.17.517.516.012.917.914.19.415.723.69.122.120.812.54.144.931.545.812.221.527.311.128.740.6
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LansingMIEast Lansing2518.310.98.821.111.39.17.63.310.821.922.722.322.914.514.423.120.634.321.139.950.312.535.90.525.037.2
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Grand RapidsMIWyoming2618.215.76.520.619.619.10.010.115.68.124.329.413.017.822.912.513.234.330.438.850.322.233.08.012.740.7
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DaytonOHBeavercreek2717.812.46.013.411.37.313.317.10.06.118.118.827.417.90.023.11.544.927.048.112.218.031.92.625.137.6
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AmesIA2817.712.951.731.014.913.60.09.70.015.142.915.864.018.514.420.40.029.027.157.916.83.231.13.43.352.5
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Des MoinesIA
West Des Moines, Ankeny, Urbandale, Clive
2917.616.713.017.421.421.10.08.015.63.330.528.19.121.239.120.45.529.020.245.716.816.961.77.36.946.2
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Grand ForksND3017.56.017.612.30.00.06.80.00.04.721.515.818.317.730.018.80.061.828.963.541.12.230.00.70.639.3
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Fort WayneIN3116.98.25.24.30.00.09.02.88.90.015.120.80.08.90.012.54.162.935.743.851.812.228.42.615.539.4
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WichitaKS3216.411.87.08.10.00.05.82.64.30.017.924.79.114.932.017.00.647.035.155.527.415.634.03.91.937.0
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PeoriaILEast Peoria3315.56.64.610.20.00.05.87.20.03.614.915.827.420.031.021.80.751.029.453.510.710.240.12.917.227.0
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Traverse CityMI3415.27.214.75.511.317.80.01.00.00.027.815.864.013.632.012.50.034.364.063.550.34.415.74.41.540.0
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EvansvilleIN3514.85.04.10.011.329.10.02.012.50.010.60.00.010.914.40.00.062.944.156.751.88.064.02.96.935.0
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State CollegePA3514.812.337.00.00.00.05.84.30.022.944.118.84.614.10.020.40.029.022.231.119.84.531.94.716.140.3
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SpringfieldMO3714.611.49.32.30.00.05.80.88.90.014.718.818.316.014.412.50.022.445.563.248.812.819.17.54.022.5
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Green BayWI3814.07.76.97.70.00.00.02.34.30.013.815.827.412.833.012.50.047.026.951.230.59.541.71.38.237.9
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YoungstownOH
Austintown, Boardman, Warren
3913.99.57.75.111.311.40.02.10.00.03.720.89.112.50.017.00.344.952.264.012.211.624.17.319.212.0
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Fox CitiesWI
Appleton, Kaukauna, Menasha, Neenah, Oshkosh
3913.97.28.72.90.00.00.07.610.80.018.318.80.010.014.421.80.047.027.246.830.57.335.81.37.146.5
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ToledoOHMaumee, Sylvania4113.88.43.86.50.00.00.03.219.84.713.722.30.04.014.412.51.244.932.152.112.214.744.514.931.934.8
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Iowa CityIACoralville4113.87.413.38.814.933.75.83.00.012.450.50.00.014.40.020.40.029.025.848.316.85.339.04.44.651.3
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AthensOH4313.72.39.74.411.364.010.10.50.09.023.018.818.313.50.00.00.044.958.062.012.20.00.04.75.329.5
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Sioux FallsSD4413.67.26.75.511.317.87.61.30.00.025.422.34.613.014.412.520.42.633.151.964.08.961.53.41.253.8
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EriePA4513.38.911.611.421.464.00.01.98.91.814.715.80.09.70.017.00.029.049.450.419.87.913.23.418.425.3
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Terre HauteIN4513.33.34.20.00.00.00.00.20.00.00.015.80.02.40.012.50.062.944.963.351.84.923.24.79.515.2
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ManhattanKSJunction City4713.14.69.00.014.964.00.00.90.07.931.415.89.19.90.00.00.047.042.453.527.43.529.84.32.754.5
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Cedar RapidsIAMarion4812.86.97.114.011.318.80.04.20.00.020.020.86.112.80.021.80.029.026.152.716.88.148.44.41.945.7
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BloomingtonILNormal4812.82.32.50.011.364.00.010.210.88.143.818.80.06.70.00.00.051.025.244.810.74.954.07.425.743.7
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SpringfieldIL5012.24.65.211.70.00.00.00.80.00.022.70.00.07.10.012.564.051.024.354.210.76.134.70.512.132.7
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Eau ClaireWI5012.23.84.816.411.340.00.01.70.00.016.10.00.09.531.00.00.047.030.249.230.55.127.917.37.936.4
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BeloitWI5012.26.612.26.30.00.00.03.60.00.05.50.00.09.30.018.80.047.030.747.030.54.721.61.821.541.5
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BismarckNDMandan5311.62.84.60.00.00.00.00.56.80.023.20.00.02.514.40.02.961.823.349.141.13.631.81.30.039.4
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RockfordILLoves Park, Belvidere5410.84.22.20.00.00.00.04.20.00.05.00.00.08.030.00.03.051.035.150.810.79.619.026.433.229.9
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FlintMI5510.72.30.14.40.00.00.014.30.00.02.718.80.06.214.40.00.034.340.750.350.311.17.114.921.423.9
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Bowling Green
KY5610.62.32.10.011.364.00.00.40.00.011.50.00.00.00.00.00.043.750.755.139.65.616.310.49.830.2
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RochesterMN5710.43.83.32.50.00.00.06.10.00.036.218.89.18.70.017.02.941.40.045.60.06.839.40.08.046.5
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TopekaKS5810.31.60.85.90.00.00.01.80.00.014.720.83.00.00.00.00.047.033.460.227.46.927.86.74.715.6
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La CrosseWI5910.00.00.00.00.00.00.01.20.04.323.415.89.16.30.00.00.047.027.349.030.54.922.11.06.637.5
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Quad CitiesIA
Davenport, Bettendorf, Rock Island, East Moline and Moline
609.43.81.30.00.00.00.03.58.90.813.315.89.17.70.00.00.029.030.956.516.810.634.72.19.631.0
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DuluthMNSuperior, WI609.45.03.90.00.00.00.01.00.02.215.215.818.37.10.00.00.041.425.857.40.08.325.30.31.724.6
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St. CloudMNSartell, Sauk Rapids629.13.33.29.30.00.00.02.70.00.010.80.00.04.40.00.029.741.426.046.50.06.030.117.37.241.9
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Jefferson City
MO639.00.00.20.00.00.00.00.50.00.014.922.30.00.00.00.025.422.438.762.448.84.230.65.93.019.4
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WheelingWV648.20.00.417.60.00.00.00.30.00.02.00.00.01.714.40.00.018.554.455.333.53.663.67.316.30.0