Key Takeaways
- Atlanta ranks first in ProptechOS’s 2025 Smart City Index, surpassing San Jose and Boston.
- The city scored 88 for tech infrastructure and 82 for its tech job market, showing significant growth.
- San Francisco and Oakland excelled in environmental metrics and tech job availability, respectively.
Atlanta Tops Smart City Rankings
Atlanta has emerged as the leading city for a “smart city future” in ProptechOS’s 2025 Smart City Index, outperforming tech hubs like San Jose and Boston. The rankings assess cities based on tech infrastructure, sustainability, and the job market for technology professionals.
According to ProptechOS, a Stockholm-based software company, Atlanta’s high scores in these areas translate to enhanced public services and improved quality of life for its residents, including better transportation, security, economic opportunities, and lower air pollution levels. Climbing from tenth place last year, where Seattle held the top position, Atlanta achieved impressive ratings of 88 out of 100 for tech infrastructure and 82 for its tech job market. The city’s data indicates there are 643 tech jobs advertised per 10,000 residents.
Highlights of Atlanta’s technology credentials include the fourth-highest internet download and upload speeds among major U.S. cities, along with having the third-highest concentration of companies focused on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the fifth-highest number of artificial intelligence (AI) companies.
Atlanta’s commitment to enhancing its smart city profile has a longstanding history, having joined the White House’s Smart Cities Initiative in 2015. Collaborations with the Georgia Institute of Technology have led to various projects aimed at traffic management, public safety, and environmental sustainability. A notable initiative, the North Avenue Smart Corridor Project, has gained international recognition for its innovative traffic management solutions through data analytics and technology application.
In a move to improve public transportation services, Atlanta has been upgrading its customer-facing digital tools. This includes enhancements to the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), with improvements targeting station displays and the mobile app. This project is anticipated to be completed in June 2024.
While Atlanta led the overall rankings, San Francisco was recognized for having the best environmental metrics, mainly due to its vast network of electric vehicle charging stations and green buildings. Oakland outperformed in the realm of tech jobs, scoring 98 out of 100 with 889 tech jobs per 10,000 people, equating to around 10% of the city’s population.
The index also highlights European cities, with Paris taking the top spot, followed by Stockholm, Amsterdam, Munich, and Lisbon.
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