Top Cities for Data Science Classes & Training

Students interested in learning data science at a dedicated training facility will find that almost all of their options are located in major metropolitan areas. Since this is also where many of the highest-paying jobs are located, it makes sense that students looking for a career change may want to consider the kinds of cities that offer the most robust training options for aspiring data scientists and data analysts.

What is Data Science?

Data science is a broad field that encompasses the disciplines of mathematics, computer programming, and artificial intelligence (AI). Data professionals such as data scientists and data analysts use advanced techniques like machine learning algorithms to find patterns in a vast amount of information. This process can provide actionable insights to stakeholders, from product managers to C-suite executives.

Today, nearly every sector requires data science expertise, whether public or private. Among the top sectors where data science is critical are health and wellness, retail, web and application development, banking and finance, and government agencies. The field continues to project dramatic growth over the next decade; Glassdoor listed Data Scientist as number three in its 50 Best Jobs in America in 2022.

Read more about what data science is and why you should learn it.

What Can You Do with Data Science Skills?

Data science has so many applications in different industries that a comprehensive review could fill a book. Professionals such as business analysts, machine learning engineers, and enterprise architects use data science in their day-to-day activities.

Top sectors for data science include banking and finance, marketing and advertising, and healthcare:

• Banking, Financial Services & Insurance (BFSI)—business analysts and data scientists use data for everything from fraud detection to customized financial advice. Machine learning algorithms assist with risk analytics, stock trading, and other tasks.

• Marketing & Advertising—data analysts and marketing analysts use data science in advertising to create targeted ad copy, recommend products and services, and leverage social media platforms. Programming languages like Python and R, often key to data science roles, help experts analyze data and make recommendations.

• Healthcare—in healthcare, data scientists create algorithms to develop care plans and improve patient services. Using data analysis in medical imaging can help care providers make diagnoses and treatment decisions.

Data science is also crucial to many other sectors, from retail and manufacturing to the public sector. If you want to combine challenging work with job security, start with data science.

Best Cities in the U.S. for Data Science

If you’re interested in becoming a Data Scientist, you may wonder which cities have the most job opportunities and best chances for professional development in this field. The following sections will explore ten of the top cities in the U.S. for aspiring data scientists, as well as what makes each location a strong possibility for relocation.

New York City

New York City remains one of the most iconic cities in the U.S. The Big Apple is home to many of the largest organizations, companies, and banks in the country such as JPMorgan Chase, JetBlue Airways, HBO, American Express, Nielsen Company, and W. W. Norton and Company. Some of the world’s top financial institutions are located in NYC, as are major companies like Bloomberg, Deloitte, and IBM Watson. No matter your interests, New York is a city that offers something for everyone. This booming metropolis is home to Broadway, the New York Stock Exchange, top-tier institutions like NYU and Columbia, and more than 100 museums. It’s also the location of Noble Desktop’s training facility, located in central Manhattan.

One of the best reasons to consider relocating to NYC for a career in data science is that it has more corporate jobs than any other location in the U.S. New York City's job growth rate is also currently above the national average. The city provides a range of incentives for professionals, including more than 17 incubators with low-cost workspace and support for tech companies across various sectors. NYC is also considered a digital hub, offering startups opportunities to connect, secure funding, and succeed professionally. Data scientists in NYC make about $130,000 annually.

If you’re looking to study data science in NYC, around 60 course listings are available from top educators. You can find data science training in New York City using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Beginner-friendly instruction is available from schools such as The Flatiron School, Practical Programming, and BrainStation. Experienced professionals may consider courses that help advance their skills such as Byte Academy’s Data Science Bootcamp or General Assembly’s Data Science Course.

Chicago

Chicago is one of the largest and most vibrant metro areas in America. The Windy City is known for its beautiful architecture and skyscrapers, as well as world-famous museums like the Art Institute of Chicago. In addition, Chicago is a great place to study, as it’s home to over 100 higher learning institutions, including the University of Chicago. For those interested in pursuing a career in data science, Chicago is an excellent location to consider due to its above-average job growth rate. Currently, more than 40,000 software developers work in Chicago. The city ranked fourth in 2021 for tech job postings, with 11,000 tech roles added that year alone. Data scientists in Chicago earn a competitive salary of about $135,000 annually.

For those interested in learning data science, Chicago offers a wide variety of options. You can use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool to find data science classes in Chicago. Over two dozen courses are available from top educators in the city. Learners can choose from a range of topics including data visualization, Python, SQL, and data analytics. Northwestern Boot Camps' Data Science and Visualization Bootcamp offers hands-on training with Tableau, while New Horizons’ SQL Querying Fundamentals—Part 1 introduces students to querying with SQL.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles ranks as the second-most populated city in the U.S. With more than 60 universities and colleges such as the California Institute of Technology, Pepperdine University, Loyola Marymount University, and UCLA, Los Angeles is a great city to study data science. The city offers more than education: Los Angeles is also home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches and more than 90 museums. This diverse city features a world-class food scene and an economy driven by creative entrepreneurs such as fashion designers, actors, artists, and manufacturers.

If you’re interested in studying data science, Los Angeles is quickly becoming a hub for companies relocating from the Bay Area. The main startup and tech scene in Los Angeles is known as Silicon Beach, home to more than 500 companies like Headspace, ChowNow, Google, and Hulu. Those pursuing a career in data science in Los Angeles can expect to earn approximately $125,000 annually.

In addition to ample job opportunities in data-related fields, Los Angeles also offers a range of excellent educational options for aspiring data scientists. If you’re searching for learning options, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to find and compare data science training options in Los Angeles. Over 30 courses are listed by a range of educators. Students interested in studying the basics can enroll in UCLA Extension’s Data Science Fundamentals. If you want to learn more about deep learning, you may wish to explore the DevMaster’s Mastering Data Science with Deep Learning course.

Palo Alto/San Jose

Palo Alto is home to Silicon Valley, one of the biggest tech hubs in the world. It is also one of the wealthiest and most expensive places in the U.S. to live. Palo Alto boasts a young and creative population, a vibrant nightlife, ample coffee shops, parks, and restaurants, and some of the most competitive tech jobs in the country. Stanford University, one of the top schools in the nation, is located in Palo Alto and spans nearly 8,000 acres. With moderate weather and top-tier public schools, this city offers much more than a tech hub—it’s also a good place to raise a family. Data scientists living in Palo Alto typically make about $130,000 a year.

If you live in the Palo Alto area and are interested in learning more about data science, you can find data science courses near Palo Alto using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Coursework is currently available in a range of data science topics. Interested learners can select from programs like Coding Dojo’s Data Science Immersive, AcademyX’s Advanced SQL or Python courses, or Galvanize’s Data Science Immersive Bootcamp.

Dallas

The Dallas metropolitan area is another excellent location to pursue a career as a Data Scientist. Dallas is known for being a relatively affordable place to live for a major city (about one percent above the national average). It also has an expanding job market that listed nearly 50,000 jobs in 2021. Dallas is home to many Fortune 500 companies such as Southwest Airlines, AT&T, and ExxonMobil. In addition, it’s considered one of America’s safest cities, with well-maintained neighborhoods and streets. This city also offers top-tier healthcare options, a variety of financial and manufacturing industries, and career opportunities in oil, gas, and technology. In 2021, Dallas was designated the tenth Best City for Business and Careers. Data scientists in Dallas make approximately $125,000 annually.

For those interested in pursuing a career in data science, Dallas offers many great training options. Interested learners can browse data science classes in Dallas with the help of Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. Nearly two dozen course options are currently listed by top educators like General Assembly and Dallas Data Science Academy. If you’d like to learn how Python is used in data science, consider Coding Temple’s Python + Data Science, which teaches participants how to use this coding language for full-stack web development. Business Data Analytics is also available from Dallas Data Science Academy. This intermediate-level course provides instruction on using Excel, Tableau, and Python for data cleaning and analysis.

Boston/Cambridge

Another excellent location to study data science is Cambridge, Massachusetts, which is part of the Boston metropolitan area. Often referred to as the “intellectual capital of the world, ” Cambridge is home to top-tier schools like Harvard, Tufts, Lesley, and MIT. In addition to being renowned institutions of higher learning, these schools also employ most of Cambridge’s workforce. The city offers excellent cultural and culinary options and has hosted the Cambridge Arts River Festival for over four decades. Cambridge features more than 16 parks and wetlands, as well as the country’s first garden cemetery. In 2022, Cambridge was ranked as the second-best place to live in the U.S. It also offers competitive pay rates for data scientists, with a yearly salary of about $125,000.

If you’re looking to start your data science career in Cambridge, you may need to brush up on some core data skills. Fortunately, the greater Boston area has a range of top educators offering hands-on training. You can search for data science courses near Boston using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. General Assembly offers a Data Science Immersive as well as a Data Analytics Course. If you’re interested in studying SQL and its uses in data science, New Horizons’ SQL Querying Fundamentals Part 1 and Part 2 cover querying basics and techniques for advanced querying.

Houston

Houston is one of the most popular destinations in the U.S. for travel and career opportunities. With a cost of living that’s 8% lower than the national average and about one-third less than in other major metropolitan areas, Houston is an attractive option for those seeking affordability. Another aspect that makes Houston a great location is its diversity. Houston currently ranks as the most diverse city in America, offering excellent dining and entertainment options, over 150 museums and cultural institutions, and more than three dozen colleges and universities. Those interested in becoming data scientists in Houston earn around $125,000 a year.

For those looking to enhance their data science skills in Houston, many top educational providers offer current class listings across a range of data science topics. You can search for data science classes in Houston using Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool. More than 20 courses are available from local schools. The Flatiron School has a beginner-friendly Data Science Bootcamp. Byte Academy also offers a Data Science Bootcamp for intermediate-level learners. For students interested in analyzing and visualizing data, Rice University Boot Camps offers a Data Analytics & Visualization Boot Camp, which covers Tableau, Python, SQL, GitHub, and JavaScript.

San Francisco

San Francisco has long been considered one of the top tech hubs in the country. The Bay Area is home to many people working in or near Silicon Valley, for organizations like X (formerly Twitter), Dropbox, Salesforce, or Uber. This progressive city’s minority-majority population enjoys numerous parks within the city, as well as Muir Woods and other redwood forests just outside San Francisco. The city also boasts a diverse food scene with year-round farmers’ markets and access to fresh, locally sourced ingredients. For those pursuing a career in data science in San Francisco, the average salary is around $140,000 annually.

Enrolling in a data science class in San Francisco can provide you with the necessary training to work in a range of industries and professions. If you want to browse data science courses in San Francisco, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to compare beginner, intermediate, and advanced programs, certificates, courses, and bootcamps. The Flatiron School’s Data Science Bootcamp covers core topics such as SQL, Python, machine learning, and statistics. Berkeley Boot Camps’ Data Analytics Bootcamp is also available for those who want to work with Tableau, HTML, and CSS, among other data analytics tools.

Raleigh

Raleigh is a medium-sized town that’s long been considered an excellent alternative to moving to Silicon Valley. This Southeastern city has a low cost of living, with housing prices 3% below the national average, transportation prices 8% below the national average, and grocery prices 9% below the national average. The “Triangle” comprises Chapel Hill, Durham, and Raleigh and is known for its research and technology community. This area is home to large employers like Cisco and Lenovo. Data scientists working in Raleigh earn an average salary of $135,000.

If you’re interested in studying data science in the Raleigh area, many top educators offer in-person study options in various data-related skills, languages, and tools. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool allows you to search data science classes in Raleigh to find the best match for you. If you’d like to study Python and machine learning, General Assembly’s Python and Machine Learning Bootcamp provides instruction on Python libraries like NumPy and Pandas, as well as regression analysis and machine learning. UNC-Chapel Hill Boot Camps offers a Data Analytics Boot Camp, which provides beginner-level instruction on working with SQL, Python, HTML, CSS, and Tableau to analyze and visualize data.

Seattle

Also called the “Emerald City, ” Seattle is renowned for its year-round green landscape. This makes it a popular spot for outdoor enthusiasts to travel or relocate. The Pacific Northwest offers more than just beautiful nature—it’s also a great place to pursue a career in data science. In 2024, Seattle ranked 11th among the Best Cities for Jobs. Data scientists based in Seattle make approximately $145,000 a year. Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and is home to Amazon and Amazon Web Services, both of which offer numerous job opportunities. Residents have access to over 40 museums, world-class dining, top-tier coffee, and over 60 breweries. In addition, summer weather is beautiful in Seattle, and the state has no income tax. For these reasons, Seattle is considered the 36th-best city in America.

If you’d like to study data science in Seattle to prepare for a career, Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can help you find the perfect course. More than two dozen data science courses in Seattle are listed in topics like data analytics, SQL, and data science. Skillspire’s Intro to Data Analytics is a beginner-level course that teaches students how to use Microsoft Power BI and SQL to analyze and visualize data. Intermediate-level instruction is offered by Galvanize. Their Data Science Immersive Bootcamp covers topics like statistics, Python, machine learning, and natural language processing.

Learn Data Science Skills Online

If you’d like to study data science but don’t live near one of the major metropolitan areas in the U.S., online coursework is an excellent alternative. Online courses are available both live and in asynchronous formats. These flexible learning options provide expert instruction in a range of relevant data science topics and skills such as visualizing data with Tableau or querying databases with SQL. Because all coursework can be completed remotely, online data science classes are a convenient way to study without leaving your home or office.

To learn more about live online data science courses, consider exploring your options with Noble’s Classes Near Me tool.

Learn Data Science Skills with Noble Desktop

Because data science is a broad field, targeted training can prepare you for a data-centered position or even help you choose a specific role. You might think you’ll need a four-year data science degree, but this isn’t necessarily the case. The bootcamp or certificate educational model has become increasingly popular for data professionals, thanks to features like small class sizes, hands-on training from industry experts, and individual mentoring. Noble Desktop offers a wide range of data science programs to help you get started.

• Data Science Certificate—The comprehensive Data Science Certificate provides all the skills required for entry-level roles in data science, data analytics, or software engineering. Students learn how to write complex queries and build machine learning models while preparing a real-world portfolio. Skills covered include Python, SQL, NumPy, Pandas, and Jupyter Notebook.

• Data Analytics Certificate—The comprehensive Data Analytics Certificate program offers the ideal training ground for Data Analysts, Business Intelligence Analysts, and Marketing Analysts. Emphasizing Tableau data visualization, this program also includes training in Python programming, SQL, and machine learning. Registrants of the Data Analytics Certificate or Data Science Certificate can also attend Noble’s Power BI Bootcamp at no additional charge.

• Python for Data Science Bootcamp—The Python for Data Science Bootcamp covers topics ranging from programming fundamentals to data visualization. Students can save by taking this course as part of Noble’s Data Science Certificate, Data Analytics Certificate, or FinTech Bootcamp.

Check out all the Noble data science classes and bootcamps for additional options such as the Python Data Science and Machine Learning Bootcamp, Python for Data Science Bootcamp, or Python Machine Learning Bootcamp.