Tool

Urban AI Readiness Score

How prepared is your city for AI and smart city technology? Compare 38 major cities across North America on the dimensions that matter most for technology deployment.

38 of 38 cities
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Select a City

Click on any city in the list to see its detailed AI readiness breakdown and compare it against other cities.

Methodology

Each city is scored from 0–100 across six dimensions, then weighted to produce a composite readiness score. The scoring draws on published indices (ProptechOS Smart City Index 2025, IMD Smart City Index), federal broadband data, open data portal audits, and municipal budget disclosures.

Scoring Weights

20%
Broadband & Connectivity — 5G coverage, fiber penetration, download speeds, data center proximity
20%
Regulatory Flexibility — Permitting speed, zoning adaptability, innovation-friendly policies
20%
Tech Workforce — AI/ML talent density, CS graduates per capita, tech job concentration
15%
Smart City Investment — Municipal smart city budgets, IoT deployments, digital twin initiatives
10%
Data Openness — Open data portal maturity, API availability, real-time feeds
15%
Transit & Infrastructure — Public transit coverage, EV charging, multimodal connectivity

Tier classifications: Leader (80+), Strong (65–79), Emerging (50–64), Developing (<50).

Sources

  • ProptechOS Smart City Index 2025 (in partnership with Ookla)
  • IMD Smart City Index 2025
  • Brookings Institution — Mapping the AI Economy (2025)
  • BCG — AI Maturity Matrix for US States (2025)
  • McKinsey — AI-Native Public Infrastructure for Smart Cities
  • Municipal open data portals and budget documents

Scores are directional assessments by Urban Insight Group, informed by the sources above. They are updated periodically and should not be treated as definitive rankings. Contact us for a custom readiness assessment.