From TRD New York: Trying to figure out the best city for Amazon’s HQ2 has become a virtual cottage industry since the tech giant announced it was planning a second headquarters, and a new ranking puts Dallas at the top of the list.
The ranking put together by the Wall Street Journal ranks cities based on six factors: tech labor force, fiscal health, cost of living, college population, culture fit and state tax rank. Based on this criteria, it found that Dallas would be the ideal fit for HQ2, based partly on the lack of state income tax in Texas.
Atlanta, Chicago and Denver were the three cities that matched up most closely with Seattle, Amazon’s current home, while New York, Washington D.C. and Chicago were the three with the most tech talent.
And apologies to Austin, Minneapolis and Newark, but this latest ranking pegs the trio of cities as long shots to land Amazon’s HQ2.
Boston came in second on the overall rankings, followed by a tie between Atlanta and Washington D.C. at number three, Chicago at number four and Atlanta at number five. New York was tied for sixth with Nashville.
Although New York submitted a bid for Amazon’s second headquarters, it is generally not seen as the most ideal location for the company, with Related Companies chairman Stephen Ross saying that the city’s high cost of doing business will likely prevent them from coming here.
For a splash of cold water, take note that Dallas struggles with public transportation and doesn’t have the same quality of life appeal for millennials as other competitors. It also has a ways to go in building up a tech workforce. [WSJ] – Eddie Small