Population > 1.6 million

Leading indicator > Highest percentage of college grads aged 25 to 34 in the U.S.

Fast companies > Red Hat; SAS Institute

This region wrote the original recipe for high-tech clusters: Start with careful planning, add a warm business climate, and top with a high quality of life. But don't forget the brains. Three big universities fuel innovation in biotech, pharma, and computer science.

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