Luton named among England’s brainiest cities, according to new study

The research, carried out by BrainManager, a website that tests IQ through various quizzes online, examined a range of factors that reflect both formal education and intellectual curiosity. Looking at 60 of England’s largest towns and cities, the study considered the percentage of residents with degrees, GCSE attainment, vocational and Level 3 qualification rates, and access to public libraries.

But it didn’t stop there – it also explored how eager people are to learn outside the classroom, using data on Google searches related to online reading and the number of public lectures and academic events held per 10,000 people.

By analysing these eight metrics and assigning each a weighted value based on its educational significance, BrainManager created an overall score to rank England’s largest towns and cities.

Luton ranks 20th overall with a score of 40.00, thanks to a mix of strong community engagement and a robust offering of public educational events. It shines particularly in two areas: vocational qualifications, where it comes third in the country, and public academic events, placing an impressive seventh with 433 events per 10,000 people.

Luton also demonstrates a healthy appetite for digital learning, ranking 16th for Google searches related to online reading. On top of that, nearly 10% of its schools are rated 'Outstanding' by Ofsted, the fifth-highest in England, suggesting strong learning environments at the school level.

However, Luton’s academic profile is marked by contrasts. While it's clearly thriving in practical, community-based education, traditional academic achievements tell a different story. It ranks 35th for degree holders (22.93%) and performs poorly in GCSE results, coming 43rd overall. It also sits in the bottom 10 for Level 3 qualifications, with just 56.5% of residents achieving this benchmark. On top of that, it shares a low score for library access, with just three public libraries, ranking 53rd nationally.

Topping the list is Oxford (1st), which lives up to its reputation with the highest proportion of degree holders and the most academic events per capita, making it the undeniable intellectual capital of England. Reading (2nd) follows closely behind, thanks to its strong GCSE and Level 3 qualification rates and a population that clearly enjoys learning online.

In third place, Slough stands out not for its universities, but for its impressive vocational qualification rate and a thriving calendar of academic events. Brighton and Hove (4th) holds its own with high degree rates and GCSE performance, while London (5th) shows off its educational infrastructure, boasting the most libraries and a strong presence of outstanding schools, though it lags in public lectures.

In sixth, York combines tradition with solid academic results, including a standout GCSE performance. Wokingham (7th) quietly impresses with some of the best qualification rates in the country despite only having a single public library. Stafford (8th) may not have the highest exam scores, but its exceptional rate of ‘Outstanding’ schools and high public event numbers help it climb the ranks.

Southend-on-Sea (9th) leads the nation in GCSE attainment and maintains strong academic engagement overall. Finally, Bournemouth rounds out the top 10, balancing good school performance with a quieter academic events scene, proving you don’t need a university town label to be among England’s brainiest cities.

On the flip side, Blackpool, Doncaster, Sunderland, Barnsley, and Hull ranked in the bottom 5.

List of the top 15 smartest cities and Luton in the study: