UPDATE: Check out our new 2023 Best Cities to Live in the U.S. list.
#5. Stanford CA
Why It’s Great for Techies:
Stanford University’s computer science program is recognized as the best in the world, and for good reason: graduates from this top-tier program helped build Silicon Valley into the tech mecca we know it as today. In fact, technology is so celebrated in the city that Stanford is near the Computer History Museum, where techies can trace the history of the computing world. The area is also home to Google’s corporate campus and countless other titans of tech.
What Sets It Apart:
Stanford is defined by its tech scene, but the city has a lot to offer outside its university and startups too. Living here means close proximity to Castle Rock State Park, which offers hiking, horseback riding and other outdoor adventures. If you’re looking for more of an artsy feel, the university’s Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Center for Visual Arts contains a world-class collection of art.