Thriving tech hubs, high-paying tech jobs and plenty of patents show the Midwest is far more than the Rust Belt of yore. Instead, some of its major cities are emerging as centers of innovation with much to offer tech entrepreneurs and companies seeking to advance their operational excellence.

A recent report by CommercialCafe ranked the 20 best Midwestern metro areas for tech development by several metrics. They include the local ratio of tech to non-tech businesses, tech employment, the number of patents granted, as well as unemployment rates and educational attainment. The results demonstrate the shift in the region's capabilities.

Madison, WI came out at the top of the combined rankings with a strong performance on several metrics. It had the highest ratio of tech to other employment opportunities: 71 of every 1,000 occupations. And at around $89,000 a year, its median salaries for tech workers were the second highest in the region. In addition, 31 of every 1,000 companies in Madison is in the tech space.