Special Report

Most Educated County in Every State

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The average cost of a college education in the United States is $35,720 a year — three times higher than it was two decades ago. While rising tuition costs are discouraging many Americans from enrolling, a college education is an investment that can increase access to career opportunities, improve job security, and increase earning potential. 

Nationwide, an estimated 32.1% of American adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment rates vary considerably across the country, however, and in every state, there is at least one county or county equivalent where the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is higher than the national average. 

Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most educated county in every state. 

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among adults with a four-year college education was 5.5% 2020. Meanwhile, the jobless rate among those with no more than a high school diploma was 9.0%. In all but eight counties and county equivalents on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is lower than the comparable jobless rate across the state as a whole. 

In addition to being better protected from unemployment, Americans with a bachelor’s degree also tend to have higher salaries. The average weekly wage for a college educated worker in the United States is about 67% higher than it is for those with no more than a high school diploma — and in places with well-educated populations, incomes also tend to be higher than average. In the vast majority of counties and county equivalents on this list, the typical household earns more in a year than the statewide median household income.

Click here to see the most educated county in every state.
Click here to see our detailed methodology.

Source: Rivers Langley; SaveRivers / Wikimedia Commons

Alabama: Shelby County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 42.9% (Alabama: 25.5%)
> Median household income: $77,799 (Alabama: $50,536)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% (Alabama: 4.8%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% (Alabama: 2.1%)
> Population: 213,432

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Alaska: Juneau City and Borough
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 38.4% (Alaska: 29.6%)
> Median household income: $88,390 (Alaska: $77,640)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.1% (Alaska: 5.9%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.4% (Alaska: 2.2%)
> Population: 32,227

Arizona: Coconino County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 36.2% (Arizona: 29.5%)
> Median household income: $59,460 (Arizona: $58,945)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.8% (Arizona: 4.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.7% (Arizona: 2.7%)
> Population: 141,274

Arkansas: Pulaski County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.3% (Arkansas: 23.0%)
> Median household income: $51,749 (Arkansas: $47,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.8% (Arkansas: 4.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.3% (Arkansas: 1.8%)
> Population: 392,967

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California: Marin County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.5% (California: 33.9%)
> Median household income: $115,246 (California: $75,235)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% (California: 5.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% (California: 3.4%)
> Population: 259,943

Colorado: Boulder County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 62.1% (Colorado: 40.9%)
> Median household income: $83,019 (Colorado: $72,331)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.4% (Colorado: 3.6%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% (Colorado: 2.5%)
> Population: 322,510

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Source: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons

Connecticut: Fairfield County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 47.9% (Connecticut: 39.3%)
> Median household income: $95,645 (Connecticut: $78,444)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 5.4% (Connecticut: 5.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.6% (Connecticut: 2.9%)
> Population: 943,926

Source: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ, M.D. / Wikimedia Commons

Delaware: New Castle County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 36.2% (Delaware: 32.0%)
> Median household income: $73,892 (Delaware: $68,287)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 5.0% (Delaware: 4.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.9% (Delaware: 2.7%)
> Population: 556,165

Source: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons

Florida: Leon County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 46.2% (Florida: 29.9%)
> Median household income: $53,106 (Florida: $55,660)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.8% (Florida: 4.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.8% (Florida: 2.9%)
> Population: 289,770

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Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

Georgia: Forsyth County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.1% (Georgia: 31.3%)
> Median household income: $107,218 (Georgia: $58,700)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.5% (Georgia: 4.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% (Georgia: 2.6%)
> Population: 228,383

Source: segawa7 / Getty Images

Hawaii: Honolulu County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 35.0% (Hawaii: 33.0%)
> Median household income: $85,857 (Hawaii: $81,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.2% (Hawaii: 3.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.7% (Hawaii: 2.0%)
> Population: 984,821

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Source: Wikimedia Commons

Idaho: Latah County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 45.4% (Idaho: 27.6%)
> Median household income: $49,158 (Idaho: $55,785)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.8% (Idaho: 3.2%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% (Idaho: 2.1%)
> Population: 39,505

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Illinois: DuPage County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 49.4% (Illinois: 34.7%)
> Median household income: $92,809 (Illinois: $65,886)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.4% (Illinois: 4.9%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% (Illinois: 2.7%)
> Population: 929,060

Source: Jose A Perez / Getty Images

Indiana: Hamilton County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.3% (Indiana: 26.5%)
> Median household income: $98,173 (Indiana: $56,303)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.0% (Indiana: 3.8%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.3% (Indiana: 1.9%)
> Population: 323,117

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Iowa: Johnson County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.8% (Iowa: 28.6%)
> Median household income: $62,542 (Iowa: $60,523)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% (Iowa: 2.9%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.8% (Iowa: 1.4%)
> Population: 148,577

Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images

Kansas: Johnson County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.0% (Kansas: 33.4%)
> Median household income: $89,087 (Kansas: $59,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.3% (Kansas: 3.1%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% (Kansas: 1.7%)
> Population: 591,506

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Kentucky: Fayette County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 43.6% (Kentucky: 24.2%)
> Median household income: $57,291 (Kentucky: $50,589)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.0% (Kentucky: 4.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% (Kentucky: 2.1%)
> Population: 320,601

Source: Sean Pavone / Getty Images

Louisiana: Orleans Parish
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 37.6% (Louisiana: 24.1%)
> Median household income: $41,604 (Louisiana: $49,469)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 7.0% (Louisiana: 5.4%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.2% (Louisiana: 2.4%)
> Population: 390,845

Source: SeanPavonePhoto / Getty Images

Maine: Cumberland County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 47.6% (Maine: 31.8%)
> Median household income: $73,072 (Maine: $57,918)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.5% (Maine: 3.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.5% (Maine: 1.6%)
> Population: 292,307

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Source: AppalachianViews / Getty Images

Maryland: Howard County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 62.6% (Maryland: 40.2%)
> Median household income: $121,160 (Maryland: $84,805)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% (Maryland: 4.1%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% (Maryland: 2.4%)
> Population: 318,855

Source: stresstensor / Getty Images

Massachusetts: Middlesex County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.3% (Massachusetts: 43.7%)
> Median household income: $102,603 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.3% (Massachusetts: 4.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% (Massachusetts: 2.5%)
> Population: 1,600,842

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Michigan: Washtenaw County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.9% (Michigan: 29.1%)
> Median household income: $72,586 (Michigan: $57,144)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% (Michigan: 4.8%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% (Michigan: 2.3%)
> Population: 367,000

Source: nikitsin / iStock via Getty Images

Minnesota: Hennepin County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 50.1% (Minnesota: 36.1%)
> Median household income: $78,167 (Minnesota: $71,306)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.2% (Minnesota: 3.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% (Minnesota: 1.7%)
> Population: 1,245,837

Source: Bill Herndon / Flickr

Mississippi: Madison County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 48.4% (Mississippi: 22.0%)
> Median household income: $71,824 (Mississippi: $45,081)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.5% (Mississippi: 6.1%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.5% (Mississippi: 2.8%)
> Population: 104,562

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Missouri: Boone County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 46.1% (Missouri: 29.2%)
> Median household income: $55,328 (Missouri: $55,461)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.0% (Missouri: 3.8%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.3% (Missouri: 1.9%)
> Population: 177,651

Source: anniam / Getty Images

Montana: Gallatin County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 50.1% (Montana: 32.0%)
> Median household income: $66,397 (Montana: $54,970)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.1% (Montana: 3.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% (Montana: 2.0%)
> Population: 108,063

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Source: Atomic Energy505 / Wikimedia Commons

Nebraska: Sarpy County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 39.8% (Nebraska: 31.9%)
> Median household income: $82,032 (Nebraska: $61,439)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.2% (Nebraska: 2.4%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.2% (Nebraska: 1.4%)
> Population: 181,232

Source: walencienne / Getty Images

Nevada: Storey County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 31.4% (Nevada: 24.7%)
> Median household income: $66,292 (Nevada: $60,365)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.5% (Nevada: 5.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% (Nevada: 3.4%)
> Population: 3,988

Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

New Hampshire: Rockingham County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 41.4% (New Hampshire: 37.0%)
> Median household income: $93,756 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.6% (New Hampshire: 2.9%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.8% (New Hampshire: 1.9%)
> Population: 306,359

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New Jersey: Somerset County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.7% (New Jersey: 39.7%)
> Median household income: $113,611 (New Jersey: $82,545)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.8% (New Jersey: 4.6%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.2% (New Jersey: 3.0%)
> Population: 329,838

Source: benedek / iStock via Getty Images

New Mexico: Los Alamos County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 67.4% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Median household income: $121,324 (New Mexico: $49,754)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.8% (New Mexico: 5.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% (New Mexico: 2.9%)
> Population: 18,625

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New York: New York County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.3% (New York: 36.6%)
> Median household income: $86,553 (New York: $68,486)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.5% (New York: 4.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.0% (New York: 2.9%)
> Population: 1,631,993

Source: Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons

North Carolina: Orange County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.7% (North Carolina: 31.3%)
> Median household income: $71,723 (North Carolina: $54,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.3% (North Carolina: 4.4%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% (North Carolina: 2.4%)
> Population: 144,836

North Dakota: Cass County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 40.2% (North Dakota: 30.0%)
> Median household income: $64,482 (North Dakota: $64,894)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.0% (North Dakota: 2.2%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 0.9% (North Dakota: 0.9%)
> Population: 176,975

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Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons

Ohio: Delaware County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.3% (Ohio: 28.3%)
> Median household income: $106,908 (Ohio: $56,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% (Ohio: 4.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% (Ohio: 2.0%)
> Population: 201,135

Source: Catlady95 / Wikimedia Commons

Oklahoma: Payne County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 37.4% (Oklahoma: 25.5%)
> Median household income: $41,603 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.9% (Oklahoma: 4.2%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% (Oklahoma: 1.9%)
> Population: 81,815

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Source: Flutter_97321 / Getty Images

Oregon: Benton County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.1% (Oregon: 33.7%)
> Median household income: $62,077 (Oregon: $62,818)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.1% (Oregon: 4.5%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.5% (Oregon: 2.7%)
> Population: 91,107

Source: Robert Kirk / Getty Images

Pennsylvania: Chester County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.0% (Pennsylvania: 31.4%)
> Median household income: $100,214 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% (Pennsylvania: 4.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.2% (Pennsylvania: 2.4%)
> Population: 519,560

Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images

Rhode Island: Bristol County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 49.0% (Rhode Island: 34.2%)
> Median household income: $83,092 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% (Rhode Island: 4.4%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.4% (Rhode Island: 2.6%)
> Population: 48,764

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Source: SeanPavonePhoto / iStock via Getty Images

South Carolina: Charleston County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 43.6% (South Carolina: 28.1%)
> Median household income: $64,022 (South Carolina: $53,199)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.2% (South Carolina: 4.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.7% (South Carolina: 2.2%)
> Population: 401,165

South Dakota: Clay County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 49.9% (South Dakota: 28.8%)
> Median household income: $50,724 (South Dakota: $58,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% (South Dakota: 2.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.0% (South Dakota: 1.0%)
> Population: 13,957

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Source: Ichabod / Wikimedia Commons

Tennessee: Williamson County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.8% (Tennessee: 27.3%)
> Median household income: $112,962 (Tennessee: $53,320)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% (Tennessee: 4.4%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% (Tennessee: 2.2%)
> Population: 225,389

Source: Gary Fink / iStock via Getty Images

Texas: Collin County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.3% (Texas: 29.9%)
> Median household income: $96,913 (Texas: $61,874)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% (Texas: 4.1%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.8% (Texas: 2.7%)
> Population: 973,977

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

Utah: Summit County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.0% (Utah: 34.0%)
> Median household income: $102,958 (Utah: $71,621)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.0% (Utah: 2.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.4% (Utah: 1.8%)
> Population: 41,103

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Source: hstiver / Getty Images

Vermont: Chittenden County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 51.3% (Vermont: 38.0%)
> Median household income: $73,647 (Vermont: $61,973)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.6% (Vermont: 2.8%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% (Vermont: 2.0%)
> Population: 162,646

Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Virginia: Falls Church city
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 77.6% (Virginia: 38.8%)
> Median household income: $127,610 (Virginia: $74,222)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.3% (Virginia: 3.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.4% (Virginia: 2.3%)
> Population: 14,128

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Source: aiisha5 / Getty Images

Washington: King County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.5% (Washington: 36.0%)
> Median household income: $94,974 (Washington: $73,775)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.6% (Washington: 4.0%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% (Washington: 2.5%)
> Population: 2,195,502

West Virginia: Monongalia County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 42.8% (West Virginia: 20.6%)
> Median household income: $52,455 (West Virginia: $46,711)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.4% (West Virginia: 5.3%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% (West Virginia: 2.2%)
> Population: 105,474

Source: iip-photo-archive / Flickr

Wisconsin: Dane County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 51.4% (Wisconsin: 30.1%)
> Median household income: $73,893 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.9% (Wisconsin: 2.9%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.3% (Wisconsin: 1.5%)
> Population: 536,078

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Wyoming: Teton County
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 57.0% (Wyoming: 27.4%)
> Median household income: $84,678 (Wyoming: $64,049)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 0.7% (Wyoming: 3.7%)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 0.9% (Wyoming: 1.9%)
> Population: 23,280

Methodology

To determine the most educated county in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree in every county from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.

Of the 3,220 counties or county equivalents, 3,141 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states, while the rest were in the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.

Counties were excluded if bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rates were not available in the 2019 ACS, if the county’s 25 and older population was less than 1,000, or if the sampling error associated with a county’s data was deemed too high.

The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a county’s bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rate. We similarly excluded counties that had a sampling error too high for their 25 and over population estimates, using the same definition.

The remaining 3,021 counties were ranked within their state based on the share of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree.

Additional information on median household income, unemployment rates for the 25-64 year old population that have at least a bachelor’s degree, unemployment rates for the 25-64 year old population for all educational attainment levels, and population are also five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS. 

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