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. Surging prices have led to unprecedented student debt levels totalling more than $1.7 trillion and may partially explain why college enrollment has fallen by nearly 2% a year since 2010. (This is the most expensive college in every state.)
Nonetheless, while a college education may not be for everyone, it remains a valuable asset that can offer better 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 some counties, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is more than double the national average.Â
Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most educated counties or county equivalents in the United States. In each of the cities on this list, over 70% of the adult population have at least a bachelor’s degree. (Here’s a list of how many people have had a college degree every year since 1971.)
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. Additionally, college-educated Americans are less than half as likely to be unemployed as those who only finished high school. In all but eight counties on this list, the typical household earns more than the national median household income of $62,843, and most have a lower five-year average unemployment rate among the 25 to 64-year-old population than the comparable 4.4% national figure.
Several of the counties and county equivalents on this list, including Tompkins County, New York; Story County, Iowa; and the independent city of Charlottesville, Virginia, are home to major research universities. These areas have large graduate school populations and often a concentration of employers that require university graduates to fill high-skill jobs.Â
Click here to see the most educated counties in the United States
Click here to see our detailed methodology
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50. Story County, Iowa
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 51.6%
> Median household income: $56,756 — 1,012th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.9% — 1,223rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% — 1,664th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 96,941
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49. Albany County, Wyoming
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 51.8%
> Median household income: $49,322 — 1,817th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 1,223rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.8% — 2,290th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 38,390
Source: BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
48. Oconee County, Georgia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.3%
> Median household income: $90,751 — 67th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.9% — 422nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.0% — 816th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 38,132
Source: dhughes9 / iStock via Getty Images
47. Collin County, Texas
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.3%
> Median household income: $96,913 — 49th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 745th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.8% — 2,290th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 973,977
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46. Summit County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.4%
> Median household income: $79,277 — 175th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 502nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.7% — 1,391st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 30,649
Source: SpVVK / iStock
45. Santa Clara County, California
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.4%
> Median household income: $124,055 — 4th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.8% — 1,107th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.3% — 2,528th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,927,470
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44. King County, Washington
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.5%
> Median household income: $94,974 — 56th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.6% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% — 2,140th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 2,195,502
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43. Hunterdon County, New Jersey
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.7%
> Median household income: $115,379 — 13th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.9% — 803rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.3% — 1,897th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 124,823
42. Wake County, North Carolina
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.8%
> Median household income: $80,591 — 156th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.2% — 926th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.2% — 1,809th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,069,079
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41. Johnson County, Iowa
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.8%
> Median household income: $62,542 — 603rd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 649th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.8% — 1,498th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 148,577
Source: OlegAlbinsky / E+ via Getty Images
40. Nantucket County, Massachusetts
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.8%
> Median household income: $107,717 — 21st highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 381st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.2% — 971st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 11,168
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39. Fulton County, Georgia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 52.9%
> Median household income: $69,673 — 316th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.5% — 1,799th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% — 2,140th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,036,200
Source: Robert Kirk / Getty Images
38. Chester County, Pennsylvania
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.0%
> Median household income: $100,214 — 37th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 926th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.2% — 1,809th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 519,560
Source: Thomson200 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
37. Forsyth County, Georgia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.1%
> Median household income: $107,218 — 22nd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.5% — 502nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% — 1,742nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 228,383
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36. Tompkins County, New York
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.5%
> Median household income: $60,240 — 737th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 803rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.2% — 1,809th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 102,642
Source: DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images
35. Norfolk County, Massachusetts
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 53.6%
> Median household income: $103,291 — 26th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.5% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.4% — 1,981st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 700,437
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34. Morris County, New Jersey
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.1%
> Median household income: $115,527 — 12th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.6% — 1,107th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.9% — 2,332nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 493,379
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33. Benton County, Oregon
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.1%
> Median household income: $62,077 — 623rd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.1% — 1,740th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.5% — 2,607th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 91,107
Source: Nyttend / Wikimedia Commons
32. Delaware County, Ohio
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.3%
> Median household income: $106,908 — 24th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 349th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% — 1,313th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 201,135
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31. Somerset County, New Jersey
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.7%
> Median household income: $113,611 — 15th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.8% — 1,284th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.2% — 2,481st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 329,838
Source: DenisTangneyJr / iStock via Getty Images
30. Charlottesville city, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 54.9%
> Median household income: $59,471 — 787th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.9% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.4% — 1,118th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 47,096
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29. Summit County, Utah
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.0%
> Median household income: $102,958 — 27th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 1.0% — 89th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.4% — 1,118th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 41,103
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28. Albemarle County, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.1%
> Median household income: $79,880 — 168th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.1% — 289th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.8% — 1,498th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 107,405
Source: bauhaus1000 / iStock via Getty Images
27. Broomfield County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.7%
> Median household income: $96,416 — 54th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.8% — 502nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% — 2,065th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 67,886
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26. Washtenaw County, Michigan
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 55.9%
> Median household income: $72,586 — 256th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% — 1,742nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 367,000
Source: Stephen Edmonds / Flickr
25. Johnson County, Kansas
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.0%
> Median household income: $89,087 — 80th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.3% — 381st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% — 1,571st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 591,506
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24. Gunnison County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.2%
> Median household income: $56,577 — 1,027th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% — 1,580th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 0.9% — 745th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 16,802
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23. Middlesex County, Massachusetts
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.3%
> Median household income: $102,603 — 28th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.3% — 803rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% — 2,065th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,600,842
22. Williamsburg city, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.8%
> Median household income: $57,463 — 944th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 1,968th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.0% — 816th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 14,927
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21. Teton County, Wyoming
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 57.0%
> Median household income: $84,678 — 120th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 0.7% — 39th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 0.9% — 745th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 23,280
Source: SWKrullImaging / Getty Images
20. Douglas County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 58.0%
> Median household income: $119,730 — 9th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.3% — 381st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.2% — 1,809th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 336,041
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19. San Francisco County, California
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 58.1%
> Median household income: $112,449 — 17th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.8% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.0% — 2,373rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 874,961
Source: Matt Anderson / iStock via Getty Images
18. District of Columbia, District of Columbia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 58.5%
> Median household income: $86,420 — 104th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 6.0% — 2,404th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% — 2,225th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 692,683
Source: krblokhin / iStock
17. Montgomery County, Maryland
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 58.9%
> Median household income: $108,820 — 20th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.6% — 1,223rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% — 2,225th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,043,530
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Source: Derek Jensen / Wikimedia Commons
16. Hamilton County, Indiana
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.3%
> Median household income: $98,173 — 44th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.0% — 349th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.3% — 1,038th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 323,117
Source: SEASTOCK / iStock
15. San Miguel County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.4%
> Median household income: $67,038 — 383rd highest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 257th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.0% — 816th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 8,049
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14. Marin County, California
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.5%
> Median household income: $115,246 — 14th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.1% — 745th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.5% — 2,065th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 259,943
Source: Mx. Granger / Wikimedia Commons
13. Orange County, North Carolina
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.7%
> Median household income: $71,723 — 272nd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.3% — 649th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% — 2,140th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 144,836
Source: csfotoimages / iStock
12. Williamson County, Tennessee
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.8%
> Median household income: $112,962 — 16th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 349th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.1% — 1,742nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 225,389
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11. Pitkin County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 60.8%
> Median household income: $78,935 — 178th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.6% — 422nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% — 2,140th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 17,926
Source: ablokhin / iStock via Getty Images
10. Fairfax city, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 60.8%
> Median household income: $116,979 — 10th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.4% — 981st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% — 1,664th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 23,531
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9. New York County, New York
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.3%
> Median household income: $86,553 — 103rd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 4.5% — 1,638th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.0% — 2,373rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,631,993
Source: Jacqueline Nix / Getty Images
8. Loudoun County, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.3%
> Median household income: $142,299 — 1st highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.6% — 502nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.3% — 1,897th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 395,134
Source: JacobH / Getty Images
7. Fairfax County, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.6%
> Median household income: $124,831 — 3rd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.0% — 870th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.6% — 2,140th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 1,145,862
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6. Boulder County, Colorado
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 62.1%
> Median household income: $83,019 — 129th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 3.4% — 1,042nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% — 2,225th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 322,510
Source: AppalachianViews / Getty Images
5. Howard County, Maryland
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 62.6%
> Median household income: $121,160 — 7th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% — 803rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% — 1,571st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 318,855
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4. Alexandria city, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 63.1%
> Median household income: $100,939 — 33rd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.7% — 422nd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% — 1,313th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 157,613
Source: Dean_Fikar / oStpcl
3. Los Alamos County, New Mexico
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 67.4%
> Median household income: $121,324 — 6th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.8% — 591st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% — 1,664th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 18,625
Source: benedek / Getty Images
2. Arlington County, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 75.3%
> Median household income: $120,071 — 8th highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.5% — 323rd lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.0% — 1,664th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 233,464
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Source: krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
1. Falls Church city, Virginia
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 77.6%
> Median household income: $127,610 — 2nd highest of 3,022 counties
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, all workers: 2.3% — 870th lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019, adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.4% — 1,981st lowest of 3,022 counties (tied)
> Population: 14,128
Methodology
To determine America’s most educated counties, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
Of the 3,220 counties or county equivalents, 3,142 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia.
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 or higher attainment rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all counties’ bachelor’s 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 3,022 counties were ranked based on the share of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Additional information on the median earnings for adults 25 and over with earnings that hold a bachelor’s degree, median earnings for adults 25 and over with earnings for all levels of educational attainment, 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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