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America's 20 Smartest Small Towns

Where brains and high property values meet

By Victoria Floethe,  Newser User

Posted Jan 10, 2009 6:59 PM CST

(Newser) – America's brainiest small towns boast high property values and high culture. Forbes lists the nation's smartest:

  1. Bethesda, Md.: Nearby Georgetown and the National Institutes of Health draw brainy folk to Bethesda, which has a rate of advanced degrees five times higher than the nation's.
  2. Wellesley, Mass.: Home to two private colleges and some of the state's top high schools, Wellesley is just 13 miles from brainy Boston.

  1. Palo Alto, Calif.: Palo Alto's scholarly folk, drawn by Stanford University, maintain a median income of $119,000.
  2. McLean, Va.: Many officials and politicians are drawn here from nearby Washington, DC.
  3. Los Altos, Calif.: Pulls in some of Stanford's tenure-track faculty and probably has even higher property values than Palo Alto.
For more enlightened corners, click here.

Bethesda, Md. attracts brainy folk from state capital Georgetown.
Bethesda, Md. attracts brainy folk from state capital Georgetown.   (Flickr)
Central Street in Wellesley, Mass., a magnet for some of Boston's brainiest.
Central Street in Wellesley, Mass., a magnet for some of Boston's brainiest.   (Flickr)
Wellesley Town Hall in Wellesley, Mass.
Wellesley Town Hall in Wellesley, Mass.   (Flickr)
Palo Alto, Calif. is home to Stanford University and a high median income among academics.
Palo Alto, Calif. is home to Stanford University and a high median income among academics.   (Flickr)
McLean, Va. is home to the headquarters of USA Today, the nation's most circulated newspaper.
McLean, Va. is home to the headquarters of USA Today, the nation's most circulated newspaper.   (Flickr)
Main Street in downtown Los Altos, Calif.
Main Street in downtown Los Altos, Calif.
Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.
Stanford University in Palo Alto, Calif.   (Shutterstock)
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