Here’s an ego boost, Boston: The Hub was just ranked third in a list of emerging powerhouse cities. And if you were wondering, yes, we beat New York City.

Boston is behind only San Francisco and London, according to Chicago-based consulting firm A.T. Kearney’s Global Cities Outlook, which evaluates a city’s potential using metrics like “personal well-being, economics, innovation, and governance.’’ The list looks towards the future, but what about Boston’s present? Kearney’s Global City Index ranks Boston 23rd.

The difference between the present and future ranking is driven by the city’s high scores on “patents per capita,’’ according to a statement by the firm. Since Boston appears in the top 25 on both lists, it’s been dubbed one of the “Global Elite,’’ according to Mike Hales, A.T. Kearney partner and study co-leader.


In February, Boston was also named the tenth most-innovative U.S. city by personal finance website NerdWallet.

“Boston emerged from the Great Recession with a flurry of startup activity, moving it beyond its fame as the geographic genesis of Facebook,’’ the NerdWallet report said.