Austin, TX

Austin, another city that is too small to be included in worldwide rankings, is noted for being one of America's fastest-growing cities as well as a rapidly rising hi-tech center. The world-class engineering and computer science schools at the University of Texas at Austin, as well as fresh entrants from within and outside the state, provide a continual stream of talent to support this sector.

Best smart initiative: Austin Water is testing thousands of smart water meters in several areas as part of a pilot program. The meters broadcast usage data electronically, allowing the utility to foresee and respond to changing conditions and promote customer interaction.