Places to Beat

Ten spots that have honed competition to a fine art

Globalization was supposed to render location meaningless? Well, in theory, at least. A Silicon Valley startup can do its engineering in Bangalore, manufacturing in Shanghai, and accounting in Manila. Why live in pricey Manhattan if a creative director can work remotely from Maine?

But in the end, the real contest isn't between nations. It's between communities, whether they be neighborhoods, cities, or tight-knit regions. Factors that lure investment today, such as good schools, roads, tax policies, and support industries, are controlled by communities, not national governments. Here's a look at some hot communities.