Portfolio.com assessed the collective brainpower of the 200 largest metropolitan areas in the U.S. My hometown, Erie, PA, came in 143rd out of 200, with a negative brainpower index. Washington, D.C was third on the list, so obviously my mobility was significant to these results.

Seriously…the brainpower index was measured by the educational attainment of residents. Less than a quarter of Erie’s residents have at least a Bachelor’s degree, compared to over half of the residents in the number one city on the list (Boulder, CO).

For context, I looked up the rankings of the three largest cities surrounding Erie–Buffalo (Dave’s hometown), Pittsburgh, and Cleveland. Buffalo is 77th, with a positive brainpower rating, Pittsburgh is 86th and also positive. Cleveland is 99th and pretty much at the break even point with a slightly negative ranking.