Ranking Amazon's HQ2 Options

February 2018
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Executive Summary
Hamilton Place Strategies (HPS) analyzed the requirements and
preferences outlined in Amazon's HQ2 RFP to rank the remaining U.S.
cities on Amazon's top 20 list. Our review of the HQ2 RFP resulted in the
identification and analysis of 11 metrics* in four categories for all of the 19
U.S. finalist locations.** The four categories are:
• Transportation
• Education
• Business, Lifestyle, and Culture
• Connectivity
Each of the 19 U.S. locations received a final score based on these metrics
out of a possible score of 11. For each metric, locations above the "city
average"*** received one point, locations below the "city average" received
zero points, and locations exactly at the "city average" received half a point.
Our full methodology can be found on slide 15.
*Certain requirements related to commercial real estate, incentives, and transportation were not measurable due to lack of publicly available data
**Due to lack of uniform data between the U.S. and Canada, Toronto was excluded from this analysis
***City average refers to the average of the 19 cities for a given metric 1
FINDINGS

Based On Amazon's HQ2 Criteria, Washington, D.C.

Scores Highest = Above Average = Below Average = Average

New York City

Montgomery

Washington,
Philadelphia
Los Angeles
Indianapolis

Pittsburgh
Columbus

Nashville

Northern
Chicago

Average
Virginia

Raleigh
Newark
County
Boston

Denver
Atlanta

Austin

Dallas

Miami

D.C.
Within 45 minutes of an
Y N Y Y N Y Y N Y Y Y N Y Y Y Y N N Y N/A
international airport

Number of total direct

44 1 25 42 0 29 9 0 51 78 36 1 49 129 30 14 0 1 36 30
international destinations

Direct flights to Seattle, NYC,

Y Y Y Y N Y Y N Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N Y Y N/A
Bay Area, and D.C.

Overall mass transit score 7.9 5.1 9.4 9.1 5.1 6.8 7.9 4.0 7.7 8.7 7.0 3.6 8.7 9.6 7.4 9.0 8.3 4.8 9.3 7.3

Percent of population with

36.5% 42.0% 45.4% 36.1% 34.8% 33.1% 41.3% 32.2% 32.6% 30.1% 49.4% 33.0% 38.1% 38.1% 49.4% 35.5% 32.5% 44.3% 49.4% 38.6%
bachelor's degree or higher

Number of top 50 national

2 0 7 2 0 0 0 0 5 1 2 1 3 3 2 4 1 2 2 1.95
universities within 50 miles

Business and career rankings 9 8 30 76 11 10 4 21 91 84 77 12 152 113 57 83 85 2 57 52

"Livability" score 6.6 7.8 7.1 6.1 6.5 7.1 7.5 6.5 5.9 5.8 7.3 7.1 6.1 6.1 7.3 6.2 6.5 7.2 7.3 6.7

Diversity, by percent of foreign-

13.4% 14.6% 17.7% 17.7% 7.3% 17.8% 12.2% 6.4% 33.6% 39.4% 22.3% 7.6% 28.7% 28.7% 22.3% 10.3% 3.7% 11.8% 22.3% 17.8%
born population

Percent of state population

26.9% 20.4% 39.7% 5.4% 11.6% 20.4% 12.6% 17.3% 17.2% 27.1% 60.9% 28.0% 64.9% 59.1% 48.4% 41.9% 41.9% 22.3% 57.4% 32.8%
covered by fiber optic networks
Area with cellular network
100.0
coverage from at least one 78.9% 84.6% 92.7% 96.8% 94.8% 97.3% 96.7% 94.7% 96.2% 96.2% 77.1% 78.6% 98.5% 80.7% 98.1% 97.5% 77.9% 98.6% 91.4%
%
major provider

Final score 6 4 9 6 2 6 7 2 7 6 8 3 8 8 8.5 6 3 5 10 6.0

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FINDINGS

D.C. Edges Out Boston For Gold, But Access To Top

Universities May Impact Amazon's Final Choice
Washington D.C. • Third highest scored mass transit after New York City and Boston, but multiple international
airports and above average international destinations
• Best educated workforce, but fewer top 50 universities than Boston, Los Angeles,
Philadelphia, Newark, and New York City
• Above average livability and diversity, but below average business and career ranking
• Nearly 60 percent fiber optic coverage and nearly 99 percent cellular coverage

Boston • Second highest scored mass transit, but below average international destinations
• Second highest educated workforce and seven top 50 universities, five more than
Washington, D.C.
• Above average livability and business and career ranking, but slightly below average
diversity
• Nearly 40 percent fiber optic coverage and nearly 93 percent cellular coverage

Northern Virginia • Above average mass transit score and average number of international destinations
• Best educated workforce, but fewer top 50 universities than Boston, Los Angeles,
Philadelphia, Newark, and New York City
• Above average livability and diversity, but below average business and career ranking
• Nearly 50 percent fiber optic coverage but below average cellular coverage, at nearly 81
percent
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TRANSPORTATION

Within 45 Minutes Of An International Airport

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago

ATL BOS ORD

Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis

DFW DEN

Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville

LAX MIA, FLL BWI, IAD

Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia

EWR EWR, JFK IAD PHL

Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.

BWI, IAD

Source: Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Analysis, U.S. International Air Passenger and Freight Statistics Report, 2016, accessed 1/24/18
Note: Airport assumed to be "international" if there are more than 10 direct international destinations 4
TRANSPORTATION

Number Of Total Direct International

Destinations
Average City: 30
Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
44 1 25 42
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
0 29 9 0
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
51 78 36 1
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
49 129 30 14
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
0 1 36
Source: Department of Transportation, Office of Aviation Analysis, U.S. International Air Passenger and Freight Statistics Report, 2016, accessed 1/24/18
Note: This includes airports with less than 10 international destinations to be inclusive of total destinations for the city (MDW, ONT, SNA, LGA, DCA) 5
TRANSPORTATION

Direct Flights To Seattle, New York, The Bay

Area, And D.C.

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago

Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis

Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville

Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia

Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.

Source: Bureau of Transportation Statistics, T-100 Domestic Segment (All Carriers), 2016, accessed 2/7/18 6
TRANSPORTATION

Overall Mass Transit Score

Average City: 7.3

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
7.9 5.1 9.4 9.1
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
5.1 6.8 7.9 4.0
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
7.7 8.7 7.0 3.6
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
8.7 9.6 7.4 9.0
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
8.3 4.8 9.3
Source: Center for Neighborhood Technology, AllTransit Performance Score, accessed 2/1/18 7
Note: Northern Virginia is the average of Arlington County and Fairfax County
 EDUCATION

Percent Of Population With A Bachelor's Degree

Or Higher
Average City: 38.6%

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago

36.5% 42.0% 45.4% 36.1%
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
34.8% 33.1% 41.3% 32.2%
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
32.6% 30.1% 49.4% 33.0%
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
38.1% 38.1% 49.4% 35.5%
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
32.5% 44.3% 49.4%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2016 5-Year Estimates,"S1501 Educational Attainment," accessed 2/1/18
Note: Percentages based on Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). New York City and Newark share a MSA; Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County share a MSA 8
EDUCATION

Number Of Top 50 National Universities Within

50 Miles
Average City: 1.95
Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
2 0 7 2
Harvard, MIT, Tufts, BC, Brandeis, University of Chicago,
Emory, Georgia Tech
BU, Northeastern Northwestern

Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis

0 0 0 0

Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville

5 1 2 1
Cal Tech, UCLA, USC, UC
University of Miami Johns Hopkins, Georgetown Vanderbilt
Irvine, Pepperdine

Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia

3 3 2 4
Princeton, Penn, Lehigh,
Princeton, Columbia, NYU Princeton, Columbia, NYU Johns Hopkins, Georgetown
Villanova

Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.

1 2 2
Carnegie Mellon Duke, UNC Johns Hopkins, Georgetown

Source: U.S. News & World Report, "National University Rankings," 2018, Note: "Within 50 miles of the city" determined by algorithm in U.S. News & World Report's searchable
database using city name except for Los Angeles and Philadelphia, which were directing to other locations (East Los Angeles and New Philadelphia, respectively), so we used the zip 9
code of city hall for these cities
BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE, AND CULTURE

Business And Career Rankings

Average Ranking: #52

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago

#9 #8 #30 #76
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
#11 #10 #4 #21
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
#91 #84 #77 #12
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
#152 #113 #57 #83
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
#85 #2 #57
Source: Forbes, "Best Places For Business And Careers," 2017. Note: Rankings based on MSA and metropolitan division. Silver Spring's metropolitan division spans Montgomery County. 10
Washington, D.C.'s metropolitan division spans Northern Virginia. This analysis applies the Silver Spring score to Montgomery County and the D.C. score to Northern Virginia
BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE, AND CULTURE

"Livability" Score

Average Score: 6.7

Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
6.6 7.8 7.1 6.1
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
6.5 7.1 7.5 6.5
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
5.9 5.8 7.3 7.1
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
6.1 6.1 7.3 6.2
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
6.5 7.2 7.3
Source: U.S. News & World Report, "100 Best Places To Live In The USA," 2017. 11
Note: Scores based on MSA. New York City and Newark share a MSA; Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County share a MSA
BUSINESS, LIFESTYLE, AND CULTURE

Diversity, By Percent Of Foreign-Born

Population
Average City: 17.8%
Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
13.4% 14.6% 17.7% 17.7%
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
7.3% 17.8% 12.2% 6.4%
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
33.6% 39.4% 22.3% 7.6%
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
28.7% 28.7% 22.3% 10.3%
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
3.7% 11.8% 22.3%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, "S0501 Selected Characteristics Of The Native And Foreign-Born Populations," accessed 2/1/18 12
Note: Percentages based on MSA. New York City and Newark share a MSA; Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia, and Montgomery County share a MSA
CONNECTIVITY

Percent Of State Population Covered By Fiber

Optic Networks
Average City: 32.8%
Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
26.9% 20.4% 39.7% 5.4%
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
11.6% 20.4% 12.6% 17.3%
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
17.2% 27.1% 60.9% 28.0%
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
64.9% 59.1% 48.4% 41.9%
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
41.9% 22.3% 57.4%
Source: BROADBANDNOW, "Fiber Providers: Availability By State," accessed 1/30/18 13
CONNECTIVITY

Area With Cellular Network Coverage From At

Least One Major Provider
Average City: 91.4%
Atlanta Austin Boston Chicago
78.9% 84.6% 92.7% 96.8%
Columbus Dallas Denver Indianapolis
94.8% 97.3% 96.7% 94.7%
Los Angeles Miami Montgomery County Nashville
96.2% 96.2% 77.1% 78.6%
Newark New York City Northern Virginia Philadelphia
100.0% 98.5% 80.7% 98.1%
Pittsburgh Raleigh Washington, D.C.
97.5% 77.9% 98.6%
Source: OpenSignal, "Coverage Maps," accessed 1/30/18 (Networks analyzed: AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon); Estimated via "Image Color Summarizer" on 1/30/18
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METHODOLOGY

Methodology
HPS reviewed Amazon's HQ2 RFP to identify and analyze 11 metrics in four categories for all 19 U.S. finalist locations, including:

Transportation
• Proximity to international airport (45 minutes)
• Metric: Approximate travel time from a city's downtown to an international airport using Google Maps. We use 10 direct international flights to
qualify an airport as international
• Metric: Combined number of direct international routes per year with more than 90,000 passengers from international airports in proximity to a
city's downtown
• Direct daily flights to Seattle, New York (JFK, LGA), San Francisco (SFO, OAK, SJC), and Washington, D.C. (BWI, IAD, DCA)
• Metric: Direct domestic routes from that city to the listed destinations with more than 36,000 passengers annually
• Access to mass transit (on site)
• Metric: Overall mass transit score as measured by AllTransit, a project of Center for Neighborhood Technology

Education
• A highly educated labor pool and strong university system
• Metric: Percent of population with a bachelor's degree or higher by MSA from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2016 5-Year
Estimates
• Metric: Top 50 national university within 50 miles from U.S. News & World Report 2018 National University Rankings, "within 50 miles"
determined by algorithm in U.S. News & World Report searchable database using city name*

Business, Lifestyle, and Culture

• A stable and business-friendly environment
• Metric: "Best Places For Business And Careers" from Forbes, 2017**
• Urban or suburban locations with the potential to attract and retain strong technical talent
• Metric: "100 Best Places to Live in the USA" from U.S. News & World Report, 2017***
• Diverse population
• Metric: Percent of population that is foreign-born by MSA from U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2016 5-Year Estimates

Connectivity
• Fiber connectivity
• Metric: Fiber optic coverage by share of state population covered via BROADBANDNOW
• Cell phone coverage
• Metric: Percentage of area with cell phone coverage under 1 or more network with OpenSignal images analyzed via Image Color Summarizer

*Los Angeles and Philadelphia were directing to other locations (East Los Angeles and New Philadelphia, respectively), so we used the zip code of city hall for these cities
**Forbes criteria includes the following: job growth, net migration, cultural opportunities, colleges, business cost, and educational attainment. Cities are ranked 1-200
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***U.S. News & World Report criteria includes the following: happiness, housing, healthcare, retiree taxes, job market, and desirability. Cities are graded on a scale of 1-10
CONTACT US

Please feel free to reach out to HPS with questions or comments about this report.

Contact:
Matt McDonald, Partner
(202) 822-1205
mmcdonald@hamiltonps.com

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