Could one of these cities be the next Silicon Valley of the world?

Indeed, according to Cushman & Wakefield. A study by the real estate firm went all in on retrieving substantial data to find metropolitan areas that are on the brink of becoming tech epicenters.

The study utilized six metrics: institutions of higher learning, venture capital funding, number of tech workers, knowledge workers (or, available non-tech workers who can work in legal and business capacities), educated workers, and growth entrepreneurship. The study argues that these factors — which it's collectively calling a "tech stew" — are key to finding the areas where people are most educated and creative, where there's space for entrepreneurship, and where there's, well, lots of money.

"Certain cities have the tech feel in the air, on the signage, in the conversations at the bars, in its population's habits and preoccupations," the study reads. "In certain cities, tech is more deeply woven into the fabric of the city itself, and it's dramatically shaping those local real estate markets."