At A Glance: A Sampling Of Potential Cities For Amazon’s New Headquarters

Metro Area
2016 Population
Quality Of Life Ranking
International Airport(s)
Public Transit
Largest Surrounding Universities
Atlanta 5,789,700 #50 Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International
  • Bus and light rail: Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA)
  • Daily ridership: 432,900
  • Emory University
  • Georgia Institute of Technology
  • Georgia State University
Aurora/Denver 2,853,077 #2 Denver International
  • Bus and light rail: Regional Transportation District (RTD)
  • Daily ridership: 339,300
  • University of Colorado, Denver
  • Regis University
  • University of Denver
Charlotte, N.C. 2,474,314 #14 Charlotte Douglas International
  • Bus and light rail: Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
  • Daily ridership: 83,100
  • University of North Carolina, Charlotte
  • Johnson & Wales University
  • Davidson College
Durham, N.C. 559,535 #7 Raleigh–Durham International
  • Regional and municipal bus:
    • GoDurham
    • GoTriangle
  • Daily ridership: 18,500
  • Duke University
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
  • North Carolina State University
Washington, D.C. 6,131,977 #4
  • Ronald Reagan Washington National
  • Washington Dulles International
  • Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
  • Bus and heavy rail: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
  • Daily ridership: 748,800
  • American University
  • George Washington University
  • Georgetown University

Source: American Public Transit Association, Regional Transport District, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. News’ 100 Best Places to Live in the USA

Credit: Brittany Mayes, Yu-Ning Aileen Chuang and Emily Sullivan/NPR