For the third year in a row, Washington, D.C., is "America's most literate city," according to an annual statistical study ranking 75 cities, released Thursday.

The study, conducted by Central Connecticut State University president John Miller, is based on data that includes the number of bookstores, library resources, newspaper circulation, Internet resources and educational levels.

Miller says the study is aimed at shifting attention from school test scores on reading "to how much people are reading, and where are they reading the most."

The rankings for the top 50 cities in 2012, with comparisons to 2011 (the designation .5 indicates a tie):

1. Washington, D.C. (same as in 2011)

2. Seattle (same as in 2011)

3. Minneapolis (same as in 2011)

4. Pittsburgh (up from No. 6)

5. Denver (up from No. 10)

6. St. Paul (up from No. 12)

Read more at USA Today.