Community Corner

Bay Area Ranks in the Nerd Department, Website Says

Two local cities were named on Movoto's Top 10 list.

South Tampa might get the honors for being one of America’s “sexiest” neighborhoods, but when it comes to nerd appeal, it just doesn’t beat out Sarasota or Bradenton.

Writers at the real estate website Movoto.com recently released their Top 10 list of America’s “Nerdiest Small Cities” with Sarasota and Bradenton both earning placement, along with Pensacola and Ocala in the Sunshine State.

The website crafted its list looking at such critical nerd factors as the number of comic book stores, hobby shops, bookstores, video game stores and museums within a town. Its list focuses on cities with populations between 50,000 and 60,000.

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When those factors were taken into consideration, Sarasota shot up the nerdy scale to earn No. 2 honors, just behind Marietta, Ga.

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The website determined that Sarasota has one bookstore for every 7,544 residents. Adding to its nerd ranking was the fact it came in second for the number of hobby and computer stores per capita.

Bradenton wasn’t too far behind at No. 6. While bookstores helped Sarasota make the grade, it was hobby shops that put this city on the list.

“Bradenton has 4,223 people for every hobby shop,” the authors noted. It also “ranked in the top 10 overall for both computer stores and book stores, where it ranked eighth and ninth, respectively.”

Florida’s other two honorees were Pensacola in third place and Ocala in seventh.

Check out the full list on Movoto.com.

So, what do you think, Tampa Bay? Do Sarasota and Bradenton deserve the nerdy honors? Tell us by commenting below!

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