11.Seattle, Washington

Seattle, Washington

Zillow

Patents per million residents: 1,174
Average patents per year: 3,968
Top industry: Computer software
Microsoft's not quite in Seattle, but it's well within the metro area. Amazon is headquartered there as well. A tax regime friendly to the wealthy doesn't hurt. 
Source: Brookings

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-20-most-innovative-cities-in-the-us-2013-2?op=1#ixzz2RzXgC8QT