On Numbers have combed through 2009 Census data to determine brainpower of cities and towns across the US. Here is the ranking for Minnesota cities with populations between 50,000-99,999. As you can see three Dakota County cities have made the list (in bold). Mendota Heights also ranked near the top in the smaller communities category.
- Eden Prairie
Brainpower index: 19.922
National ranking: 37 - Woodbury
Brainpower index: 18.565
National ranking: 44 - Plymouth
Brainpower index: 17.961
National ranking: 48 - Minnetonka
Brainpower index: 17.420
National ranking: 51 - Eagan
Brainpower index: 15.062
National ranking: 70 - Maple Grove
Brainpower index: 13.816
National ranking: 81 - Lakeville
Brainpower index: 10.714
National ranking: 111 - Burnsville
Brainpower index: 8.064
National ranking: 147 - Bloomington
Brainpower index: 7.974
National ranking: 153 - Duluth
Brainpower index: 5.520
National ranking: 185
How do they determine brainpower? According to the Business Journals, here is the criteria:
Each place’s score was based on its percentage of adults (25 or older) at each level of a five-rung educational ladder:
- Dropped out before high school graduation
- Stopped at high school diploma
- Stopped at associate degree or attended college but stopped without any degree
- Stopped at bachelor’s degree
- Earned graduate degree and/or professional degree
