RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 661

Least educated, California cities · 2020

California cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS).

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost educated Most graduate degrees Fewest graduate degrees

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

501Novato, CACA51,94746.3%+25%

502La Palma, CACA14,90746.4%+22%

503Pacifica, CACA36,89046.7%+38%

504San Diego, CACA1,406,10646.7%+33%

505Brea, CACA47,26046.8%+40%

506Rocklin, CACA76,82146.9%+30%

507Fair Oaks, CACA32,79947.1%+11%

508Sebastopol, CACA7,53247.3%+33%

509Cypress, CACA48,78147.3%+52%

510Mountain House, CACA25,31547.3%–

511Twin Lakes CDP (Santa Cruz County), CACA5,07347.5%+52%

512Loma Linda, CACA25,22147.6%+6%

513Goleta, CACA32,40147.8%+23%

514Pismo Beach, CACA7,91147.9%+29%

515Arcata, CACA19,04747.9%+15%

516Chino Hills, CACA77,51948.1%+28%

517East Pasadena, CACA5,47948.2%+21%

518La Habra Heights, CACA5,32748.6%−1%

519Rancho Santa Margarita, CACA45,77948.8%+12%

520Millbrae, CACA22,86948.9%+45%

521Seal Beach, CACA24,07549.1%+30%

522Lake Forest, CACA86,33349.2%+45%

523Mission Viejo, CACA90,48449.6%+20%

524Rancho Murieta, CACA5,87550.0%+22%

525Thousand Oaks, CACA122,23050.0%+18%

526Laguna Woods, CACA16,84450.0%+75%

527San Luis Obispo, CACA50,63650.0%+22%

528Santa Barbara, CACA86,42250.1%+27%

529Folsom, CACA91,98350.2%+34%

530San Clemente, CACA62,22650.3%+39%

531Poway, CACA49,18050.4%+28%

532Laguna Hills, CACA30,02050.4%+28%

533La Crescenta-Montrose, CACA19,66051.2%+28%

534Eastern Goleta Valley, CACA28,29551.3%–

535Torrance, CACA138,39151.7%+42%

536San Rafael, CACA59,41051.8%+19%

537Pleasure Point, CACA5,48951.9%–

538Aptos, CACA6,40452.3%+27%

539Scotts Valley, CACA11,65252.3%+28%

540Redwood City, CACA82,17852.3%+47%

541Pasadena, CACA135,80453.0%+28%

542Villa Park, CACA5,64553.1%−7%

543Milpitas, CACA78,59653.2%+46%

544Half Moon Bay, CACA11,28753.3%+50%

545Campbell, CACA42,49053.5%+35%

546Cerritos, CACA46,36753.6%+23%

547Yorba Linda, CACA65,63253.8%+30%

548Dana Point, CACA32,23253.9%+31%

549Diamond Bar, CACA51,88454.0%+27%

550El Dorado Hills, CACA51,02654.3%+5%

551Santa Cruz, CACA61,79754.3%+22%

552Laguna Niguel, CACA64,10754.6%+14%

553Pleasant Hill, CACA34,01754.9%+29%

554Walnut, CACA27,31654.9%+31%

555Pacific Grove, CACA14,65955.0%+25%

556View Park-Windsor Hills, CACA11,23055.4%+23%

557Ladera Heights, CACA7,33455.4%+5%

558Monterey, CACA28,95355.7%+21%

559Truckee, CACA17,27855.7%+69%

560El Segundo, CACA16,37955.8%+37%

561Claremont, CACA35,83856.3%+8%

562Aliso Viejo, CACA49,84456.3%+16%

563San Mateo, CACA103,33756.4%+46%

564Alameda, CACA76,87656.7%+34%

565Granite Bay, CACA21,67356.7%+14%

566North Tustin, CACA25,80756.9%–

567Arcadia, CACA54,11756.9%+28%

568Clayton, CACA10,84257.4%+11%

569Rossmoor, CACA11,53258.7%+20%

570Fremont, CACA226,44258.7%+36%

571San Francisco, CACA826,07958.8%+31%

572Rio del Mar, CACA9,20158.9%+9%

573Stevenson Ranch, CACA20,99059.0%–

574Carlsbad, CACA112,26059.1%+29%

575Las Flores CDP (Orange County), CACA5,51359.2%+9%

576St. Helena, CACA5,19459.8%+50%

577West Hollywood, CACA34,23160.1%+28%

578Culver City, CACA39,45260.4%+46%

579Fairfax, CACA7,41761.3%+26%

580Encinitas, CACA60,73661.7%+24%

581El Granada, CACA5,23261.9%+23%

582Santa Clara, CACA133,44662.1%+47%

583Redondo Beach, CACA67,28162.4%+30%

584Oak Park, CACA13,75762.6%+34%

585Topanga, CACA8,88562.8%–

586Sierra Madre, CACA10,62062.9%+27%

587Agoura Hills, CACA19,24363.8%+32%

588Beverly Hills, CACA30,76463.9%+17%

589El Cerrito, CACA26,12164.2%+15%

590Coronado, CACA21,09464.8%+34%

591Blackhawk, CACA10,13765.0%–

592Coto de Caza, CACA15,19065.1%+12%

593Calabasas, CACA22,02765.3%+13%

594Ladera Ranch, CACA23,79365.4%–

595Pleasanton, CACA74,55665.5%+39%

596Sunnyvale, CACA156,57765.9%+30%

597Malibu, CACA9,57466.0%+11%

598University of California-Davis, CACA8,69666.1%–

599Burlingame, CACA31,92966.6%+39%

600Newport Beach, CACA81,97767.2%+15%

601Belmont, CACA28,75267.5%+30%

602Dublin, CACA71,60267.5%+105%

603Laguna Beach, CACA22,39167.7%+21%

604Rancho Mission Viejo, CACA11,97167.7%–

605Santa Monica, CACA90,08268.0%+24%

606San Carlos, CACA29,26168.3%+37%

607Walnut Creek, CACA70,01268.4%+27%

608Danville, CACA43,30268.6%+15%

609Rancho Palos Verdes, CACA39,65469.1%+19%

610Lucas Valley-Marinwood, CACA6,47369.2%+21%

611Camino Tassajara, CACA5,83169.3%–

612Gold River, CACA7,92469.3%+20%

613Irvine, CACA318,76469.5%+19%

614Solana Beach, CACA12,60269.6%+20%

615Westlake, CACA7,50570.1%+36%

616Sausalito, CACA7,01970.2%+0%

617Menlo Park, CACA32,71370.5%+14%

618South Pasadena, CACA25,50370.6%+26%

619Saranap, CACA5,66270.7%–

620San Ramon, CACA86,20970.9%+34%

621Rolling Hills Estates, CACA7,94871.0%+17%

622Mountain View, CACA85,43871.0%+28%

623Foster City, CACA32,41171.4%+19%

624Los Gatos, CACA32,57671.5%+21%

625Emeryville, CACA13,25172.0%+35%

626California Polytechnic State University, CACA7,91572.2%–

627Larkspur, CACA12,62072.4%+16%

628Marina del Rey, CACA9,17672.7%+17%

629Albany, CACA19,19572.8%+14%

630Lafayette, CACA25,31373.1%+7%

631Corte Madera, CACA9,92973.1%+16%

632Berkeley, CACA121,91173.1%+14%

633Montecito, CACA9,03173.6%+16%

634La Cañada Flintridge, CACA19,48073.8%+16%

635Strawberry CDP (Marin County), CACA5,83073.8%+18%

636Alamo, CACA14,48874.5%+17%

637Davis, CACA66,11074.6%+9%

638Mill Valley, CACA13,79974.6%+5%

639Moraga, CACA16,32274.9%–

640San Anselmo, CACA12,55574.9%+27%

641Manhattan Beach, CACA33,12276.8%+14%

642Tiburon, CACA8,88177.0%+11%

643Woodside, CACA5,18177.0%+15%

644Hermosa Beach, CACA18,51377.0%+14%

645Saratoga, CACA30,41877.9%+14%

646San Marino, CACA11,96478.2%+12%

647Palos Verdes Estates, CACA12,55978.9%+11%

648Tamalpais-Homestead Valley, CACA12,08579.2%+5%

649Cupertino, CACA58,33379.6%+22%

650Kentfield, CACA6,90079.9%+17%

651Contra Costa Centre, CACA6,89380.0%–

652Hillsborough, CACA11,20681.1%+16%

653Atherton, CACA6,96082.6%+8%

654Palo Alto, CACA67,60982.7%+11%

655Piedmont, CACA10,64282.8%+6%

656Los Altos, CACA30,96584.6%+19%

657Orinda, CACA19,50785.2%+15%

658Kensington, CACA5,17985.5%+10%

659University of California-Santa Barbara, CACA12,12185.6%–

660Los Altos Hills, CACA8,41987.6%+12%

661Stanford, CACA18,66293.9%−1%

SHOWING 501–661 OF 661

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES