The list by real estate blog Movoto was based on the number of comic book stores, video game stores, hobby shops, computer stores, bookstores and museums in relation to the population size. It also factored in each city's proximity to a fan convention — think anime, sci-fi and comics.
Movoto considered only cities with between 50,000 and 60,000 people, coming up with a collection of 139.
According to Movoto, the top 50 "are little nerd havens for nerds everywhere and help represent the culture with an abundance of nerd necessities."
Burlington's strong suits were video game stores, where it ranked No. 12 in the country, and hobby shops, where it was No. 14.
The only other North Carolina city in the top 50 was Chapel Hill, at No. 33. The nerdiest small city in America was Marietta, Ga.