A report by the Brookings Institute reveals the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk region has the highest concentration of college-educated residents in the northeast. From www.smartplanet.com:
Nestled in between New York City and academic institutions like Yale University and the University of Bridgeport, the Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk area has the highest concentration of college graduates in the Northeast: 44 percent. While this figure certainly benefits local companies like Pitney Bowes, Xerox, and WWE, many residents still make the 45-minute commute to New York City each day.
Short of a national IQ test, few metrics provide insight into the intelligence of a city the way college degrees do. Obviously, a diploma doesn’t guarantee intelligence (or employment), but compared to non-graduate population, college graduates exhibit longer life expectancies and higher incomes.
For those in local government, the latter figure is particularly important. “And higher regional income can translate into a higher tax base, better public services, and more private amenities,” said Alan Barube, a senior fellow at Brookings Institute, May 31.
This might help explain why public figures like New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are encouraging the Class of 2012 to move to urban areas after commencement.
“So if you haven’t found a job yet,” Bloomberg told Cornell University graduates on May 26, “You’re better off coming to the city than sitting on your parents couch.” As comfortable as the sofa is back home, it’s hard to disagree.
Which cities hold smarties like you? Here’s a list of the top five:
Read more here.
The New York Times top list here.
*** Could the new Southern Fairfield County “smart” be the new State “stupid?” Are these college towns and cities taking advantage of all this educated resident pool to improve State progress? Or has it just been simply passing us by, due to stuck in the mud, Red vs Blue politics? In “da ‘Port,” resident city college grads don’t seem to vote or stay in Bpt too long! Must be ’cause they “edumicated,” no? *** FORGETABOUTIT ***
Mojo makes a very good point. The smartest kids from city neighborhoods get their educations and get out. This is not a new trend. In addition to wanting to get away it is indicative of the lack of economic opportunity in the city. Bridgeport does not attract many outside businesses–no kidding–and does not seem to be a place where many new ones like to get started.
Only living in CT for five years and Bridgeport for one, something I can never understand is how the area around UB and Seaside Park is such a hellhole. Seaside Park is one of the nicest parks I have ever been to and there is a University sitting right there. Why doesn’t the city have a bunch of cops down there patrolling all the time so people feel safe? Wouldn’t the increase in property values over time pay for the added expense?
BR, the reason the city doe not have a bunch of cops at the park is they don’t have a bunch of cops available.
They only put 21 street cops on the road each shift. The remaining 300-plus cops are in special units or are doing office work. I agree it would be nice to have added protection in the park but it would be even nicer to have that protection in our neighborhoods.
Andrew,
I am talking about the neighborhood getting to the park. The area is a mess.
OFF subject. Went by the old City Dog Pound on Asylum St. the other day. What a dump! Garbage everywhere. Weeds and grass all over. Gate was half open, looks like a real crap hole. Now the City owns this building, right? Whoever is in charge of this mess should be fired. The City should set the example and clean up its own blight! What a bad example! If my house and yard looked like that I bet some jerk from the city would come knocking on my door!