5 of 100
BACK NEXT
5. Bethesda, Md.
Population: 59,475
Pro: Extremely well-educated labor pool
Con: D.C. traffic

Bethesda boasts one of the country's best-educated populations for a city of 50,000 or more: more than 80% of its residents have at least a bachelor's degree. Low crime, rapid job growth and easy access (at least without rush-hour traffic) to airports and downtown Washington D.C. make Bethesda attractive to many entrepreneurs - and business opportunities up the appeal.

Three of the area's business innovation centers are within six miles of the town. Not only can tech startups rent the space and share facilities (video conferencing and the reception area, for instance), the county will provide legal counsel through lawyers at the University of Maryland and fiscal advice from financial services companies. While some owners say that navigating Montgomery County's various regulations can make launching tricky, the county eases the process for eligible firms with tax credits for creating jobs, expanding, and - if you're an artist - simply living and working in Bethesda.

The city also is a foodie hub, with over 250 restaurants. Every year, thousands of guests attend the annual Taste of Bethesda festival, where they're treated to dishes from dozens of local restaurants and music performances on four stages. -Kelsey Abbott

Interactive map: Bethesda, Md.
Homes for sale Find homes for sale in Bethesda, Md.


NEXT: 6. Portland, Ore.

Last updated July 02 2008: 11:16 AM ET
More Galleries
5 startups that are reimagining the world Bricks that grow from microorganisms, household garbage turned into art, three-wheeled bike-cars -- these startups are redefining urban living. More
Blue collar entrepreneurs These five entrepreneurs took their blue collar experience and used it to launch innovative businesses. More
7 lifehacks to eliminate your holiday hassle Whether curating the perfect gift or finding a pet-sitter, these startups offer time-saving services that might just seem like holiday magic. More

Special Offer

Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.