When deciding to pursue higher education, people take into account a variety of things, from tuition to majors offered to the school’s larger community. And post graduation, that diploma not only does a lot for your career choices, it does a lot for wherever you opt to settle down. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found that adults with higher levels of education tend to be more engaged in civic activities and feel greater life satisfaction.
In a 2013 report published by the Economic Policy Institute (EPI), the analysts found a strong correlation between the educational levels of a state’s workforce and the median wages in that state, and suggested investing in education instead of lowering taxes or cutting costs to businesses to boost economic prosperity.
Though this may seem costly to the state initially, the EPI argues that creating a more educated workforce is a reliable investment. Those who have higher levels of education typically become high-earning citizens who contribute more in taxes over the course of their lifetimes.
FindTheHome wanted to pinpoint the most educated city in every state. We used 2014 estimates from the American Community Survey to find cities with the highest percentage of people holding bachelor’s degree or higher. Cities with a population above 8,000 people were evaluated. Each city’s average per-capita income is also included for context.
Note: Education statistics from the American Community Survey reflect percentages of the population ages 25 and older.
#50. North Dakota: Fargo
Population: 110,725
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 38.6%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 25.8%
-Graduate Degree: 12.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $29,986
#49. Nebraska: Papillion
Population: 21,100
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 39.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 25.9%
-Graduate Degree: 13.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $33,658
#48. Alaska: College
Population: 14,568
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 39.3%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 20.3%
-Graduate Degree: 18.9%
Average Per Capita Income: $33,217
#47. South Dakota: Brookings
Population: 22,645
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 48.5%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 29.8%
-Graduate Degree: 18.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $21,786
#46. Arkansas: Maumelle
Population: 17,565
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 49.5%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 32.6%
-Graduate Degree: 16.9%
Average Per Capita Income: $36,948
#45. Rhode Island: Newport
Population: 24,599
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 49.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 28.7%
-Graduate Degree: 21%
Average Per Capita Income: $40,773
#44. Wyoming: Laramie
Population: 31,601
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 51.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 28.6%
-Graduate Degree: 22.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $22,097
#43. Nevada: Incline Village
Population: 8,389
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 51.5%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 32.4%
-Graduate Degree: 19.1%
Average Per Capita Income: $47,664
#42. Oklahoma: Edmond
Population: 85,084
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 51.9%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 31.6%
-Graduate Degree: 20.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $38,298
#41. Kentucky: Francisville
Population: 9,217
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 52.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 33.4%
-Graduate Degree: 19%
Average Per Capita Income: $38,526
#40. West Virginia: Cheat Lake
Population: 9,220
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 52.6%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 23%
-Graduate Degree: 29.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $42,160
#39. Vermont: South Burlington
Population: 18,378
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 53.9%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 31.2%
-Graduate Degree: 22.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $38,534
#38. Hawaii: East Honolulu
Population: 48,926
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 54.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 30.5%
-Graduate Degree: 23.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $48,119
#37. Montana: Bozeman
Population: 39,123
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 54.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 35.6%
-Graduate Degree: 18.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $26,350
#36. Idaho: Moscow
Population: 24,406
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 55.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 30.4%
-Graduate Degree: 24.9%
Average Per Capita Income: $20,151
#35. Utah: Highland
Population: 16,491
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 57.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 37.1%
-Graduate Degree: 20.5%
Average Per Capita Income: $31,840
#34. Maine: Orono
Population: 9,514
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 62.1%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 29%
-Graduate Degree: 33.1%
Average Per Capita Income: $18,910
#33. Iowa: Ames
Population: 61,276
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 62.8%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 33.4%
-Graduate Degree: 29.4%
Average Per Capita Income: $24,082
#32. Louisiana: Oak Hills Place
Population: 8,568
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 63.6%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 40.3%
-Graduate Degree: 23.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $42,867
#31. Mississippi: Madison
Population: 24,871
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 64.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 36.8%
-Graduate Degree: 27.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $45,604
#30. Delaware: Hockessin
Population: 13,620
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 65.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 37.1%
-Graduate Degree: 28.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $55,749
#29. South Carolina: Clemson
Population: 14,254
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 65.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 26.8%
-Graduate Degree: 38.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $22,689
#28. New Mexico: Los Alamos
Population: 11,843
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 66.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 24.6%
-Graduate Degree: 41.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $52,891
#27. Minnesota: Edina
Population: 48,940
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 67.9%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 39.5%
-Graduate Degree: 28.4%
Average Per Capita Income: $61,438
#26. Tennessee: Brentwood
Population: 39,059
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 67.9%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 42.6%
-Graduate Degree: 25.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $58,745
#25. Oregon: Bethany
Population: 21,658
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 68.9%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 36.1%
-Graduate Degree: 32.9%
Average Per Capita Income: $43,479
#24. Pennsylvania: Upper St. Clair
Population: 19,303
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 69.3%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 36.5%
-Graduate Degree: 32.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $48,691
#23. Arizona: Paradise Valley
Population: 13,243
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 70.6%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 33.4%
-Graduate Degree: 37.1%
Average Per Capita Income: $94,026
#22. Indiana: Purdue University
Population: 10,954
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 72.8%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 25.6%
-Graduate Degree: 47.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $4,688
#21. Florida: Key Biscayne
Population: 12,774
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 73.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 38.6%
-Graduate Degree: 34.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $76,709
#20. North Carolina: Chapel Hill
Population: 58,379
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 74%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 29.4%
-Graduate Degree: 44.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $36,928
#19. Kansas: Leawood
Population: 32,842
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 74.3%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 41.7%
-Graduate Degree: 32.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $76,304
#18. Washington: Mercer Island
Population: 23,636
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 75.6%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 40.4%
-Graduate Degree: 35.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $75,396
#17. Wisconsin: Whitefish Bay
Population: 14,132
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 75.8%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 42.2%
-Graduate Degree: 33.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $52,316
#16. Ohio: New Albany
Population: 8,169
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 76.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 38.6%
-Graduate Degree: 37.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $78,875
#15. Michigan: Birmingham
Population: 20,382
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 77.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 40%
-Graduate Degree: 37.5%
Average Per Capita Income: $69,172
#14. Colorado: Superior
Population: 12,716
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 78%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 39.4%
-Graduate Degree: 38.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $50,184
#13. Connecticut: Darien
Population: 21,190
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 79.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 42.9%
-Graduate Degree: 36.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $95,607
#12. Virginia: McLean
Population: 48,078
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 81.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 31.1%
-Graduate Degree: 50.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $94,014
#11. Georgia: Druid Hills
Population: 14,439
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 81.8%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 37.4%
-Graduate Degree: 44.4%
Average Per Capita Income: $49,063
#10. Maryland: Bethesda
Population: 62,024
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 82.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 27.8%
-Graduate Degree: 54.4%
Average Per Capita Income: $86,014
#9. Massachusetts: Wellesley
Population: 28,858
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 82.2%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 33.6%
-Graduate Degree: 48.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $71,733
#8. New Hampshire: Durham
Population: 10,288
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 82.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 35.5%
-Graduate Degree: 47.2%
Average Per Capita Income: $13,580
#7. Missouri: Ladue
Population: 8,549
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 83%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 39%
-Graduate Degree: 44.1%
Average Per Capita Income: $96,185
#6. Alabama: Mountain Brook
Population: 20,484
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 85.1%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 44.8%
-Graduate Degree: 40.3%
Average Per Capita Income: $69,716
#5. New York: Scarsdale
Population: 17,471
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 86.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 29.5%
-Graduate Degree: 57.2%
Average Per Capita Income: $113,535
#4. Illinois: Winnetka
Population: 12,366
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 87.4%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 38.6%
-Graduate Degree: 48.8%
Average Per Capita Income: $98,139
#3. Texas: West University Place
Population: 15,223
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 88%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 37.8%
-Graduate Degree: 50.2%
Average Per Capita Income: $106,583
#2. New Jersey: Short Hills
Population: 12,729
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 88.7%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 36.1%
-Graduate Degree: 52.6%
Average Per Capita Income: $102,528
#1. California: Stanford
Population: 13,506
Has a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 94.1%
Highest Degree Attained:
-Bachelor’s Degree: 30.3%
-Graduate Degree: 63.7%
Average Per Capita Income: $30,200