Biotechnology is growing in Dallas Fort Worth! DFW in Top 20 list of Metros in Life Sciences

Dallas Fort Worth cracked the top 20 for the first time, scoring the 16th spot in an analysis by CommercialEdge. It examined 45 metros and drew on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. Census Bureau and its own research.

DFW received a composite score of 20.6 points, enough to put it in the top third of metropolitan areas. Its strongest measures were “a sizeable talent pool and a relatively accessible office market,” CommercialEdge said.

The region also scored well for its educated workforce, with about 744,000 residents aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in a life sciences field.

DFW also scored high in average real estate vacancy rate, meaning it’s easy for companies to find new locations at a reasonable price. That makes it attractive for startups that want to spend money on research and development instead of high rental prices for lab space.