Study ranks California’s most and least educated cities | FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News

Source: WalletHub

Summary

This article discusses a study by WalletHub that ranks the most and least educated cities in the United States. Here are the key points:

1. The study compared 150 of the most populated U.S. metropolitan areas based on factors like educational attainment and quality of education.

2. Top 5 most educated cities:
   1. Ann Arbor, MI
   2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
   3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
   4. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
   5. Madison, WI

3. California cities in the top 10 include San Jose (2nd) and San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley (6th).

4. Several California cities, particularly in agricultural areas like the Central Valley, ranked poorly:
   - Visalia (150th - last place)
   - Bakersfield (147th)
   - Modesto (146th)
   - Stockton (145th)
   - Fresno (140th)

5. The study considered factors such as:
   - Percentage of adults with high school diplomas, college degrees, and graduate degrees
   - Quality of public schools and universities
   - Racial and gender education gaps

6. Ann Arbor, MI stood out with over 95% of adults having at least a high school diploma, 57% with a bachelor's degree, and 30% with an advanced degree.

7. Experts suggest that cities should partner with higher education institutions and local businesses to develop skilled workforces aligned with economic needs.

8. The study also examined correlations between education levels and median household income in different metro areas. 

How Does California Compare

Based on the information provided in the article, California metropolitan areas show a wide range in their rankings for educated workforce. Here's a summary of how California metro areas rank:

High-ranking California metro areas:

1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara: Ranked 2nd overall
2. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley: Ranked 6th overall
3. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad: Ranked 23rd

Mid-ranking California metro areas:

4. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom: Ranked 49th
5. Santa Rosa-Petaluma: Ranked 52nd
6. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara: Ranked 64th
7. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura: Ranked 92nd

Lower-ranking California metro areas:

8. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim: Ranked 87th
9. Vallejo: Ranked 121st
10. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario: Ranked 137th
11. Fresno: Ranked 140th
12. Salinas: Ranked 142nd
13. Stockton: Ranked 145th
14. Modesto: Ranked 146th
15. Bakersfield: Ranked 147th
16. Visalia: Ranked 150th (last place)

As you can see, there's a significant disparity between the highly educated workforce in the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley compared to the less educated workforce in many Central Valley cities. Coastal and tech-hub areas tend to rank higher, while agricultural regions and some inland areas rank lower in terms of educated workforce. 

Relationship between industry jobs and educated metro areas

 The article doesn't explicitly discuss a cause-and-effect relationship between industry job concentration and educated metro areas on a national scale. However, we can infer some connections based on the information provided and general knowledge about this topic:

1. Tech hubs and education:
   San Jose (Silicon Valley) and San Francisco rank highly, which aligns with their status as major tech industry hubs. This suggests a correlation between high-tech job concentration and highly educated populations.

2. Government and education centers:
   Washington D.C. and Durham-Chapel Hill (home to major universities) rank in the top 5, indicating a relationship between government/education sector jobs and highly educated populations.

3. Agricultural areas and lower rankings:
   California's Central Valley cities, known for their agricultural industry, tend to rank lower. This suggests that areas with a high concentration of agricultural jobs may have lower overall education levels.

4. University towns:
   Ann Arbor (University of Michigan) ranks first, highlighting how university towns often have highly educated populations.

5. Expert opinion:
   The article mentions an expert, Stephanie Helms Pickett, who suggests that communities should partner higher education with industry needs. This implies that there's a relationship between local industry demands and education levels.

6. Economic resilience:
   One of the expert questions asks if highly educated cities are better able to withstand economic shocks, suggesting a potential relationship between education levels and diverse, resilient job markets.

While the article doesn't provide a comprehensive analysis of this relationship nationwide, it does hint at correlations between certain industry concentrations and education levels. However, it's important to note that correlation doesn't necessarily imply causation. Other factors like historical development, policy decisions, and migration patterns likely play significant roles as well.

To establish a definitive cause-and-effect relationship, more detailed economic and demographic analysis would be necessary, which is beyond the scope of the information provided in this article.

 

Study ranks California’s most and least educated cities | FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News

fox5sandiego.com

Marc Sternfield

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Two California metropolitan areas are ranked among the ten “Most Educated Cities” in the nation, while several Golden State cities land at the bottom of the list, according to a new study from WalletHub.

The financial services company compared the 150 most populated cities in the U.S., grading them based on a formula that included the share of adults with high school diplomas and college degrees and the quality of public education.

It also weighted racial and gender gaps.

For the second straight year, Ann Arbor, Michigan, ranked No. 1, followed by California’s San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara metro area.

“The San Jose metro area is the second-most educated in America, with residents pursuing higher education at high rates,” WalletHub notes. “Over 54% of adults ages 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree, and over 26% have a graduate or professional degree. San Jose also ranks first in the country for university quality, and it also has the fourth-most summer learning opportunities per capita.”

San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley dropped two spots to 6^th. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim climbed seven spots to 87^th.

10 Most Educated Cities in the U.S. (Source: WalletHub)

1. Ann Arbor, Michigan
2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
3. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV
4. Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
5. Madison, WI
6. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA
7. Raleigh-Cary, NC
8. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX
9. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH
10. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA

On the opposite end, several cities in California’s agricultural areas, namely the Central Valley, fared poorly on WalletHub’s list. Visalia was dead last, Bakersfield ranked 147^th, Modesto 146^th, Stockton 145^th, Salinas 142^nd and Fresno 140^th.

Other California Rankings

• 23. San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA
• 49. Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA
• 52. Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA
• 64. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA
• 92. Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA
• 121. Vallejo, CA
• 137. Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA
• 140. Fresno, CA
• 142. Salinas, CA
• 145. Stockton, CA
• 146. Modesto, CA
• 147. Bakersfield, CA
• 150. Visalia, CA

Stephanie Helms Pickett, the head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging at Antioch University and a WalletHub expert, says communities should reexamine how public education supports their local economies.

“Our country’s educational model fails to account the diverse ways that people learn, process information and what best aligns not only with their interests but their skills,” Pickett says. ”The most important step we can take as a country to develop a more educated and skilled workforce is a partnership between higher education and industry – encompassing local businesses in forecasting the needed skills and training individuals to meet those needs.”

Most & Least Educated Cities in America in 2024

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJul 2, 2024

wallethub.com

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Cities want to attract highly educated workers to fuel their economic growth and tax revenues. Higher levels of education tend to lead to higher salaries. and the more that people earn, the more tax dollars they contribute over time. In turn, educated people want to live somewhere where they will get a good return on their educational investment. People also tend to marry others of the same educational level, which means cities that already have a large population of well-educated people may be more attractive to those with degrees.

Not all highly educated people will flock to the same areas, though. Some may prefer to have many people with a similar level of education around them for socializing and career connections. Others may want to be a big fish in a little pond. Not every city will provide the same quality of life to those with higher education, either.

To determine where the most educated Americans are putting their degrees to work, WalletHub compared the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the quality of the public-school system to the gender education gap.

“Higher education doesn’t guarantee better financial opportunities in the future, but it certainly correlates with it. The most educated cities provide good learning opportunities from childhood all the way through the graduate level. In addition to overall education, it’s also important to look at how well cities promote educational equality when it comes to race and gender.”

Cassandra Happe, WalletHub Analyst

Main Findings

City	Rank
City	Rank
Ann Arbor, MI	1
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	2
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	3
Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	4
Madison, WI	5
San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	6
Raleigh-Cary, NC	7
Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	8
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	9
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	10
Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	11
Provo-Orem, UT	12
Huntsville, AL	13
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	14
Portland-South Portland, ME	15
Colorado Springs, CO	16
Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	17
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	18
Trenton-Princeton, NJ	19
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	20
Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	21
Tallahassee, FL	22
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	23
Lexington-Fayette, KY	24
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	25
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	26
Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	27
Urban Honolulu, HI	28
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	29
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	30
Asheville, NC	31
Richmond, VA	32
Pittsburgh, PA	33
Manchester-Nashua, NH	34
Salt Lake City, UT	35
Charleston-North Charleston, SC	36
Eugene-Springfield, OR	37
Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	38
Kansas City, MO-KS	39
Rochester, NY	40
Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	41
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	42
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	43
Columbus, OH	44
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	45
Tucson, AZ	46
St. Louis, MO-IL	47
New Haven-Milford, CT	48
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	49
Boise City, ID	50
Worcester, MA-CT	51
Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	52
Naples-Marco Island, FL	53
Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	54
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	55
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	56
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	57
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	58
Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	59
Albuquerque, NM	60
Columbia, SC	61
Dayton-Kettering, OH	62
North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	63
Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	64
Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	65
Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	65
Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	67
Anchorage, AK	68
Syracuse, NY	69
Birmingham-Hoover, AL	70
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	71
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	72
Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	73
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	74
Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	75
Jacksonville, FL	76
Reno, NV	77
Springfield, MA	78
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	79
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	80
Akron, OH	81
Cleveland-Elyria, OH	82
Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	83
Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	84
Greenville-Anderson, SC	85
Oklahoma City, OK	86
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	87
Savannah, GA	88
Ogden-Clearfield, UT	89
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	90
Knoxville, TN	91
Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	92
Jackson, MS	93
Springfield, MO	94
New Orleans-Metairie, LA	95
Peoria, IL	96
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	97
Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	98
Wichita, KS	99
Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	100
Greensboro-High Point, NC	101
Montgomery, AL	102
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	103
Toledo, OH	104
Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	105
Fayetteville, NC	106
Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	107
Memphis, TN-MS-AR	108
Chattanooga, TN-GA	109
Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	110
Tulsa, OK	111
Fort Wayne, IN	112
Winston-Salem, NC	113
Baton Rouge, LA	114
Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	115
Salisbury, MD-DE	116
Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	117
Salem, OR	118
Port St. Lucie, FL	119
Killeen-Temple, TX	120
Vallejo, CA	121
Lancaster, PA	122
York-Hanover, PA	123
Canton-Massillon, OH	124
Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	125
Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	126
Flint, MI	127
Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	128
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	129
Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	130
Mobile, AL	131
Rockford, IL	132
Reading, PA	133
Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	134
Lafayette, LA	135
El Paso, TX	136
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	137
Ocala, FL	138
Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	139
Fresno, CA	140
Corpus Christi, TX	141
Salinas, CA	142
Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	143
Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	144
Stockton, CA	145
Modesto, CA	146
Bakersfield, CA	147
Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	148
McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	149
Visalia, CA	150

Most Educated Cities

Overall Rank*	MSA	Total Score	Educational Attainment Rank	Quality of Education & Attainment Gap Rank
1	Ann Arbor, MI	93.71	1	4
2	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	82.12	4	17
3	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	81.88	3	31
4	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	81.32	8	1
5	Madison, WI	81.03	2	51
6	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	80.76	6	19
7	Raleigh-Cary, NC	79.56	5	30
8	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	78.12	11	6
9	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	78.10	7	60
10	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	77.60	10	10
11	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	73.22	12	76
12	Provo-Orem, UT	73.13	17	18
13	Huntsville, AL	71.82	21	5
14	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	71.59	20	15
15	Portland-South Portland, ME	71.35	13	94
16	Colorado Springs, CO	70.18	16	88
17	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	70.01	9	150
18	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	69.56	14	102
19	Trenton-Princeton, NJ	69.56	19	57
20	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	68.80	15	118
21	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	68.74	18	86
22	Tallahassee, FL	68.26	24	13
23	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	67.98	25	12
24	Lexington-Fayette, KY	66.77	23	48
25	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	66.08	28	25
26	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	65.78	29	21
27	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	65.56	22	127
28	Urban Honolulu, HI	63.92	48	8
29	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	63.90	32	36
30	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	63.48	26	85
31	Asheville, NC	63.31	35	46
32	Richmond, VA	62.56	30	84
33	Pittsburgh, PA	62.54	39	41
34	Manchester-Nashua, NH	62.46	27	125
35	Salt Lake City, UT	61.82	50	22
36	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	61.59	34	99
37	Eugene-Springfield, OR	61.57	46	34
38	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	61.36	37	77
39	Kansas City, MO-KS	61.34	31	106
40	Rochester, NY	61.33	33	96
41	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	61.16	54	24
42	Lansing-East Lansing, MI	60.73	42	61
43	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	60.69	44	58
44	Columbus, OH	60.51	41	103
45	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	60.42	56	23
46	Tucson, AZ	60.28	53	43
47	St. Louis, MO-IL	60.19	36	129
48	New Haven-Milford, CT	60.10	38	119
49	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	59.44	59	26
50	Boise City, ID	59.38	58	40
51	Worcester, MA-CT	59.30	52	65
52	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	58.36	40	135
53	Naples-Marco Island, FL	58.29	45	124
54	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	57.51	43	133
55	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	57.40	46	137
56	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	57.31	76	14
57	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	57.06	60	69
58	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	57.05	49	134
59	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	56.78	90	2
60	Albuquerque, NM	56.75	55	117
61	Columbia, SC	56.70	62	75
62	Dayton-Kettering, OH	56.36	71	45
63	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	56.33	51	143
64	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	56.20	87	3
65	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	56.07	63	100
65	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	56.07	67	62
67	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	56.04	64	90
68	Anchorage, AK	55.98	57	121
69	Syracuse, NY	55.37	61	115
70	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	55.10	79	32
71	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	55.07	91	7
72	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	54.92	73	67
73	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	54.76	68	104
74	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	54.56	78	54
75	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	54.46	77	56
76	Jacksonville, FL	54.27	75	70
77	Reno, NV	54.23	82	37
78	Springfield, MA	54.07	70	114
79	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	53.99	84	28
80	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	53.92	69	130
81	Akron, OH	53.47	74	112
82	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	53.15	72	132
83	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	52.93	80	82
84	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	52.85	97	16
85	Greenville-Anderson, SC	52.79	92	27
86	Oklahoma City, OK	52.36	86	55
87	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	52.05	104	11
88	Savannah, GA	51.90	65	146
89	Ogden-Clearfield, UT	51.85	66	148
90	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	51.34	81	110
91	Knoxville, TN	51.24	95	44
92	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	51.23	85	89
93	Jackson, MS	50.96	83	122
94	Springfield, MO	50.68	96	47
95	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	50.64	88	95
96	Peoria, IL	49.89	94	93
97	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	49.70	89	113
98	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	49.51	98	68
99	Wichita, KS	49.31	93	108
100	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	49.16	99	72
101	Greensboro-High Point, NC	48.90	108	35
102	Montgomery, AL	48.77	106	49
103	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	48.69	110	29
104	Toledo, OH	48.62	100	81
105	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	48.57	109	32
106	Fayetteville, NC	47.95	118	9
107	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	47.49	105	98
108	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	47.20	103	109
109	Chattanooga, TN-GA	46.91	107	97
110	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	46.23	102	139
111	Tulsa, OK	45.96	112	71
112	Fort Wayne, IN	45.66	111	105
113	Winston-Salem, NC	45.56	119	39
114	Baton Rouge, LA	45.07	114	78
115	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	44.92	117	63
116	Salisbury, MD-DE	43.80	101	149
117	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	43.78	115	123
118	Salem, OR	43.63	121	42
119	Port St. Lucie, FL	43.10	113	136
120	Killeen-Temple, TX	42.32	120	116
121	Vallejo, CA	41.79	116	142
122	Lancaster, PA	41.41	123	66
123	York-Hanover, PA	40.35	125	74
124	Canton-Massillon, OH	39.71	129	50
125	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	39.40	122	138
126	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	39.13	128	73
127	Flint, MI	39.05	126	111
128	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	38.65	127	101
129	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	37.51	132	79
130	Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	37.30	124	145
131	Mobile, AL	36.67	133	52
132	Rockford, IL	36.43	130	126
133	Reading, PA	36.01	131	128
134	Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	35.30	134	87
135	Lafayette, LA	35.08	137	20
136	El Paso, TX	32.80	140	38
137	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	32.36	136	64
138	Ocala, FL	32.16	135	144
139	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	32.11	138	53
140	Fresno, CA	29.24	143	59
141	Corpus Christi, TX	29.17	139	131
142	Salinas, CA	28.57	142	107
143	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	27.35	144	83
144	Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	26.91	141	140
145	Stockton, CA	24.51	145	92
146	Modesto, CA	18.55	146	141
147	Bakersfield, CA	17.73	147	120
148	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	12.29	149	91
149	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	10.46	150	80
150	Visalia, CA	9.44	148	147

Notes: *1 = Most Educated
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that MSA, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

State	Overall Education Ranking	Annual Median Household Income Ranking	Category
New York, NY	26	16	High Education Level & High income
Dallas, TX	72	35	High Education Level & High income
Philadelphia, PA	30	31	High Education Level & High income
Boston, MA	9	6	High Education Level & High income
Minneapolis, MN	18	14	High Education Level & High income
Denver, CO	11	12	High Education Level & High income
Portland, OR	14	25	High Education Level & High income
Austin, TX	8	18	High Education Level & High income
Kansas City, MO	39	53	High Education Level & High income
Virginia Beach, VA	41	59	High Education Level & High income
Milwaukee, WI	55	74	High Education Level & High income
Honolulu, HI	28	8	High Education Level & High income
Omaha, NE	38	50	High Education Level & High income
North Port, FL	63	69	High Education Level & High income
Colorado Springs, CO	16	40	High Education Level & High income
Des Moines, IA	54	46	High Education Level & High income
Provo, UT	12	22	High Education Level & High income
Durham, NC	4	65	High Education Level & High income
Huntsville, AL	13	55	High Education Level & High income
Manchester, NH	34	13	High Education Level & High income
Trenton, NJ	19	19	High Education Level & High income
Naples, FL	53	41	High Education Level & High income
Orlando, FL	56	77	High Education Level & Low income
Buffalo, NY	58	101	High Education Level & Low income
Rochester, NY	40	78	High Education Level & Low income
Albuquerque, NM	60	117	High Education Level & Low income
Dayton, OH	62	103	High Education Level & Low income
Lansing, MI	42	95	High Education Level & Low income
Riverside, CA	137	47	Low Education Level & High income
Modesto, CA	146	67	Low Education Level & High income
Vallejo, CA	121	10	Low Education Level & High income
Cleveland, OH	82	107	Low Education Level & Low Income
Memphis, TN	108	129	Low Education Level & Low Income
New Orleans, LA	95	125	Low Education Level & Low Income
Knoxville, TN	91	105	Low Education Level & Low Income
El Paso, TX	136	144	Low Education Level & Low Income
Greensboro, NC	101	136	Low Education Level & Low Income
Springfield, MA	78	83	Low Education Level & Low Income
Augusta, GA	117	123	Low Education Level & Low Income
Jackson, MS	93	134	Low Education Level & Low Income
Chattanooga, TN	109	110	Low Education Level & Low Income
Pensacola, FL	98	89	Low Education Level & Low Income
Lafayette, LA	135	140	Low Education Level & Low Income
Visalia, CA	150	113	Low Education Level & Low Income
Salem, OR	118	76	Low Education Level & Low Income
Brownsville, TX	148	150	Low Education Level & Low Income
Savannah, GA	88	82	Low Education Level & Low Income
Canton, OH	124	124	Low Education Level & Low Income
Shreveport, LA	126	148	Low Education Level & Low Income
Hickory, NC	144	141	Low Education Level & Low Income

Note: For readability purposes, the above chart displays only 50 metro areas from a total sample of 150.

% of High School Diploma Holders

Highest

• 1. Ann Arbor, MI
• 2. Madison, WI
• 3. Portland, ME
• 4. Provo, UT
• 5. Colorado Springs, CO

Lowest

• 146. Bakersfield, CA
• 147. Visalia, CA
• 148. Salinas, CA
• 149. Brownsville, TX
• 150. McAllen, TX

% of Associate's Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults

Highest

• 1. Ann Arbor, MI
• 2. Provo, UT
• 3. Raleigh, NC
• 4. San Jose, CA
• 5. Madison, WI

Lowest

• T-145. Lafayette, LA
• T-145. Modesto, CA
• 147. Bakersfield, CA
• 148. Visalia, CA
• 149. Brownsville, TX
• 150. McAllen, TX

% of Bachelor's Degree Holders

Highest

• 1. Ann Arbor, MI
• 2. San Jose, CA
• 3. Washington, DC
• 4. San Francisco, CA
• 5. Boston, MA

Lowest

• 146. Brownsville, TX
• 147. Beaumont, TX
• 148. Bakersfield, CA
• 149. Modesto, CA
• 150. Visalia, CA

% of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders

Highest

• T-1. Ann Arbor, MI
• T-1. San Jose, CA
• T-1. Washington, DC
• T-1. Durham, NC
• T-1. Boston, MA

Lowest

• 146. McAllen, TX
• 147. Brownsville, TX
• 148. Modesto, CA
• 149. Visalia, CA
• 150. Beaumont, TX

Avg. University Quality

Highest

• 1. San Jose, CA
• 2. San Francisco, CA
• 3. Trenton, NJ
• 4. Santa Maria, CA
• 5. Ann Arbor, MI

Lowest

• T-128. Bridgeport, CT
• T-128. Colorado Springs, CO
• T-128. Santa Rosa, CA
• T-128. Albuquerque, NM
• T-128. Naples, FL

Racial Education Gap

Largest (favoring Black People)

• 1. Fayetteville, AR
• 2. Albuquerque, NM
• 3. Reading, PA
• 4. Ogden, UT
• 5. Ocala, FL

Largest (favoring White People)

• 141. Santa Rosa, CA
• 142. Charleston, SC
• 143. Naples, FL
• 144. Madison, WI
• 145. Milwaukee, WI

Gender Education Gap

Largest (favoring Women)

• 1. Anchorage, AK
• 2. Jackson, MS
• 3. Durham, NC
• 4. Vallejo, CA
• 5. Tallahassee, FL

Largest (favoring Men)

• 146. Rochester, NY
• 147. Manchester, NH
• 148. Pittsburgh, PA
• 149. Buffalo, NY
• 150. Albany, NY

Show More

In-Depth Look at the Most Educated Cities

Ann Arbor, MI

The Ann Arbor, MI, metro area is the most educated in the country, with over 95% of adults ages 25 and older having at least a high school diploma, over 57% having a bachelor’s degree and over 30% having an advanced degree, all of which are the highest rates in the country.

Ann Arbor also ranks fifth in the country when it comes to the quality of its universities, and it has the 18th-best public-school system. In addition, the metro area has a lot of equality in educational attainment, with only a 1.9% gap between the share of women and men who have at least a bachelor’s degree.

San Jose, CA

The San Jose, CA metro area is the second-most educated in America, with residents pursuing higher education at high rates. Over 54% of adults ages 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree, and over 26% have a graduate or professional degree.

San Jose also ranks first in the country for university quality, and it also has the fourth-most summer learning opportunities per capita.

Washington, D.C.

The Washington, D.C. metro area is the third-most educated in the country, with 53% of the population ages 25 and older having at least a bachelor’s degree and over 26% having an advanced degree.

D.C. also ranks among the top 25 metro areas for university quality and the number of summer learning opportunities per capita.

Ask the Experts

Research shows that a skilled and educated workforce provides a significant boost to the economy. For strategies aimed at increasing a city’s brainpower and the best approaches to educational development, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

1. Should local authorities target policies and programs to attract highly educated people? If so, what works?
2. Are highly educated cities better able to withstand economic shocks?
3. In your opinion, what is the most important step we can take as a country to develop a more educated and skilled workforce?
4. What are the top education issues in 2024?
5. How can the U.S. reform its immigration policy in order to attract and retain highly educated workers from abroad?

Ask the Experts

Alan J. Singer
Professor of Teaching, Learning and Technology – Hofstra University
Read More

Juan Carlos Gomez
Clinical Professor of Law; Director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration Human Rights Clinic – Florida International University College of Law
Read More

Gaurav Khanna
Assistant Professor, School of Global Policy and Strategy – University of California, San Diego
Read More

Stephanie Helms Pickett
Ed.D. – Head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging – Antioch University
Read More

Dr. Brett A. Geier
Professor – Department of Educational Leadership, Research, and Technology – Western Michigan University
Read More

Methodology

To identify the most and least educated cities in America, WalletHub compared the 150 most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across two key dimensions, including “Educational Attainment” and “Quality of Education & Attainment Gap.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 11 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest educational attainment and quality of education. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each metro area’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Educational Attainment - Total Points: 80

• Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a High School Diploma or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with at Least Some College Experience or an Associate's Degree or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a Graduate or Professional Degree: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)

Quality of Education & Attainment Gap - Total Points: 20

• Quality of Public School System: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on GreatSchools.org’s ratings of U.S. public schools.
• Average Quality of Universities: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub's “College & University” rankings report.
• Enrolled Students in Top 857 Universities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub's “College & University” rankings report.
• Number of Summer Learning Opportunities per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
• Racial Education Gap*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
  Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the percentage of black bachelor’s degree holders and the percentage of their white counterparts.
• Gender Education Gap*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
  Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the percentage of female bachelor’s degree holders and the percentage of their male counterparts.
• Education Equality Index Score: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
  Note: The Education Equality Index (EEI) is a comparative measure of the achievement gap between students from low-income families, as measured by participation in the free and reduced price lunch program, and their more advantaged peers. The EEI compares the proportion of students from low-income families who are proficient on a state assessment to all students across the state who took that same grade or subject level assessment.

*Additional context: In metro areas where women have an advantage over men and black people have an advantage over white people, we gave extra credit compared to the metro areas with no gender-based/racial inequality.

 
Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of June 4, 2024 from the U.S. Census Bureau, GreatSchools.org, GreatSchools.org - Education Equality Index, Yelp and WalletHub research.

Supporting Video Files:

• YouTube - National (for web embedding)
• YouTube - Ann Arbor, MI (for web embedding)
• Raw video files (for editing into clips)

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