RANKING · 2024 ACS · 336 SHOWN OF 336

Least educated, Illinois cities

Illinois cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). This list covers the 336 cities in Illinois that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 336 is 31.5%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Taylorville, IL, up 65 places to #26.

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IllinoisAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01West Frankfort, ILIL7,1058.9%−2.6 pts

02Chester, ILIL6,84710.2%−1.0 pts

03Cicero, ILIL81,85810.8%+4.7 pts

04▲6Harvey, ILIL19,84910.9%+2.7 pts

05▲30Posen, ILIL5,40511.5%+3.5 pts

06▲13Du Quoin, ILIL5,56911.7%−1.4 pts

07▲16Rantoul, ILIL11,99112.4%−3.6 pts

08▲21Belvidere, ILIL25,46212.8%+4.1 pts

09▲15Streator, ILIL12,19012.9%+3.9 pts

10▲5Kankakee, ILIL23,40013.0%−0.1 pts

11▲17Hillsboro, ILIL6,18413.1%−2.3 pts

12▼7Rock Falls, ILIL8,52113.4%+7.5 pts

13Cahokia Heights, ILIL16,87413.5%–

14▼6Summit, ILIL10,75314.0%+6.7 pts

15▼6Vandalia, ILIL7,10814.0%+4.1 pts

16▲9Northlake, ILIL12,46214.9%+7.2 pts

17▲4Metropolis, ILIL5,72714.9%+5.2 pts

18▼4Melrose Park, ILIL23,93615.0%+5.4 pts

19▲15Zion, ILIL24,44715.1%−0.6 pts

20▲46Marengo, ILIL7,73715.4%+1.4 pts

21▲9Pontoon Beach, ILIL5,88715.5%+5.7 pts

22▲26Wood River, ILIL10,22415.5%+4.3 pts

23▼10Granite City, ILIL26,80715.6%+5.8 pts

24▲17Burbank, ILIL28,57815.6%+6.3 pts

25▼3Salem, ILIL7,03515.6%+2.3 pts

26▲65Taylorville, ILIL10,52215.8%+2.1 pts

27▲35Harrisburg, ILIL7,92215.8%+3.0 pts

28▼11Pana, ILIL5,01015.8%+8.8 pts

29▼17East St. Louis, ILIL17,68215.9%+6.8 pts

30▲6Genoa, ILIL5,54715.9%+5.7 pts

31▼4Kewanee, ILIL12,11516.0%+5.6 pts

32▲13Round Lake Beach, ILIL26,90216.2%+0.1 pts

33▼7Pontiac, ILIL10,80616.2%+2.4 pts

34▲5Silvis, ILIL7,97916.3%+7.2 pts

35▲32Canton, ILIL13,29716.3%+4.4 pts

36▲39Centralia, ILIL11,86316.4%+2.1 pts

37▲57East Alton, ILIL5,62116.4%+8.8 pts

38▼22Round Lake Park, ILIL7,84416.5%+5.3 pts

39▼33Beardstown, ILIL5,69116.7%+8.1 pts

40▲6Paris, ILIL8,02616.8%+5.7 pts

41▲6LaSalle, ILIL9,38816.8%+4.3 pts

42▲43Dixon, ILIL14,58216.9%+4.1 pts

43▲45Spring Valley, ILIL5,40816.9%−0.5 pts

44▼6Riverdale, ILIL10,28017.0%+5.3 pts

45▲35Mount Carmel, ILIL6,72317.0%+4.1 pts

46▼4Bellwood, ILIL18,11617.2%+5.2 pts

47▼4Braidwood, ILIL6,25917.5%+8.4 pts

48▲52Benton, ILIL6,55817.6%+4.3 pts

49▼17Markham, ILIL11,27417.7%+7.1 pts

50▲6Broadview, ILIL7,87117.8%+1.2 pts

51▲2Steger, ILIL9,35217.9%+7.4 pts

52▲9Pekin, ILIL31,27717.9%+4.5 pts

53▼49Park City, ILIL7,89318.0%+2.0 pts

54▲33Bridgeview, ILIL16,52118.1%+9.0 pts

55▲43Monmouth, ILIL8,59918.3%+0.7 pts

56▼12Lyons, ILIL10,43318.4%+3.7 pts

57▲36Mount Vernon, ILIL14,18718.5%+1.4 pts

58▲2Rochelle, ILIL9,49818.6%+3.0 pts

59▲12Berkeley, ILIL5,14118.6%−0.9 pts

60▲12Worth, ILIL10,69618.7%+7.5 pts

61▼54Harvard, ILIL9,50418.7%+3.5 pts

62▲40Alsip, ILIL18,48318.7%+5.1 pts

63▼8Danville, ILIL28,13819.0%+3.2 pts

64▲59Jerseyville, ILIL8,40919.0%+8.0 pts

65▲16Freeport, ILIL23,20219.0%+1.9 pts

66▼12Beach Park, ILIL14,11419.2%+4.3 pts

67▼47Maywood, ILIL23,33019.2%+8.9 pts

68▼11Boulder Hill, ILIL8,98919.2%−2.5 pts

69▲51Bensenville, ILIL18,52519.4%+0.3 pts

70▼18Machesney Park, ILIL22,80519.4%+8.3 pts

71▼1Mattoon, ILIL16,66719.5%+6.2 pts

72▼7Franklin Park, ILIL18,04519.7%+8.4 pts

73▲1Galesburg, ILIL28,58119.7%+4.8 pts

74▼43Wilmington, ILIL5,61419.8%+9.6 pts

75▼64Sauk, ILIL9,62420.0%+11.4 pts

76▼36Midlothian, ILIL13,84120.2%+5.7 pts

77Sandwich, ILIL7,38020.3%+9.1 pts

78▼5Lincoln, ILIL12,98120.3%+6.6 pts

79▼21Clinton, ILIL6,78120.4%+8.9 pts

80▼31Blue Island, ILIL21,80520.7%+8.9 pts

81▼48Bradley, ILIL15,21420.7%+9.0 pts

82▲29North Chicago, ILIL34,05020.8%+6.0 pts

83▼32Chicago Heights, ILIL26,50820.9%+8.5 pts

84▲6Waukegan, ILIL87,94020.9%+4.7 pts

85▼6Justice, ILIL12,28521.0%+8.1 pts

86▼36Sterling, ILIL14,39421.1%+9.1 pts

87▼1Olney, ILIL8,34721.2%+4.9 pts

88▼5East Moline, ILIL20,45321.2%+5.7 pts

89▼13Calumet City, ILIL34,79821.4%+7.5 pts

90▼1Alton, ILIL25,01321.5%+5.4 pts

91▲46Candlewick Lake, ILIL5,44821.5%–

92▲24Litchfield, ILIL6,59821.6%+10.9 pts

93▲10Decatur, ILIL67,88421.6%+4.6 pts

94▲3Wonder Lake, ILIL5,59321.8%+6.3 pts

95▼31Mendota, ILIL6,89422.1%+9.0 pts

96▲40Winthrop Harbor, ILIL6,52522.2%+4.0 pts

97▼29Jacksonville, ILIL17,75222.6%−0.6 pts

98▼29Dolton, ILIL20,67122.7%+7.3 pts

99▲20Herrin, ILIL12,26822.8%+5.7 pts

100▲12Plano, ILIL12,67722.9%+12.7 pts

101Peru, ILIL9,78023.1%+6.3 pts

102▲38Hazel Crest, ILIL13,02423.2%+1.1 pts

103▼85Stickney, ILIL6,89723.2%+14.4 pts

104▲6Coal City, ILIL5,83123.2%+9.5 pts

105▼6Ottawa, ILIL18,68423.3%+6.9 pts

106▲35Carlinville, ILIL5,46523.4%+7.0 pts

107▲2Rockford, ILIL147,38423.5%+3.6 pts

108▼26Bartonville, ILIL5,80423.6%+13.5 pts

109▲21Morris, ILIL14,66923.6%+4.6 pts

110▲15Addison, ILIL35,75823.7%+4.2 pts

111▲13Greenville, ILIL7,46923.7%+4.4 pts

112▲1Hillside, ILIL8,14023.8%+3.4 pts

113▼29Crest Hill, ILIL20,69523.9%+12.0 pts

114▼7Berwyn, ILIL55,00124.2%+7.0 pts

115▼20Murphysboro, ILIL6,97724.3%+5.8 pts

116▼24Carpentersville, ILIL37,04524.3%+12.1 pts

117▲76Johnsburg, ILIL6,44524.3%−3.0 pts

118▲31Park Forest, ILIL21,07924.3%−2.6 pts

119▼11Rock Island, ILIL36,22524.5%+5.9 pts

120▼6Hickory Hills, ILIL14,10124.8%+3.5 pts

121▼58River Grove, ILIL10,40925.0%+10.6 pts

122▼7Milan, ILIL5,02825.1%+17.0 pts

123▲4East Peoria, ILIL22,08825.2%+10.3 pts

124▼65Robinson, ILIL7,28325.4%+12.6 pts

125▼8Joliet, ILIL152,24125.5%+6.9 pts

126▲34McHenry, ILIL29,21725.7%+3.6 pts

127▼6Fox Lake, ILIL10,84925.7%+10.3 pts

128▲7Loves Park, ILIL23,71225.7%+8.6 pts

129▼51Calumet Park, ILIL6,77225.8%+12.3 pts

130▲18South Holland, ILIL20,74926.0%+0.4 pts

131▲19Schiller Park, ILIL11,31726.2%+11.8 pts

132▼3Crestwood, ILIL10,52926.2%+11.3 pts

133▲13Princeton, ILIL7,67426.3%+4.9 pts

134Chillicothe, ILIL6,03326.4%+13.8 pts

135▲26University Park, ILIL7,01926.5%+1.0 pts

136▼8Elgin, ILIL115,47627.0%+6.4 pts

137▲1Manteno, ILIL9,20127.5%+10.5 pts

138▲17Palos Hills, ILIL18,02827.6%+3.4 pts

139▲6Streamwood, ILIL38,27727.8%+1.3 pts

140▼18Quincy, ILIL38,91827.8%+8.5 pts

141▲3Belleville, ILIL40,23728.0%+10.4 pts

142▼3Lansing, ILIL28,06828.2%+10.0 pts

143▲26Channahon, ILIL14,53028.3%+9.7 pts

144▼48Romeoville, ILIL41,28128.3%+9.0 pts

145▼108South Beloit, ILIL7,99628.4%+21.0 pts

146▼15Marion, ILIL17,14828.5%+11.7 pts

147▲31Hampshire, ILIL9,26628.6%+9.8 pts

148▼42Chicago Ridge, ILIL14,03628.6%+14.8 pts

149▲26Montgomery, ILIL21,97828.7%+9.0 pts

150▲6Moline, ILIL42,36228.8%+8.0 pts

151▼19Wood Dale, ILIL14,08128.9%+9.3 pts

152▼5Hanover Park, ILIL36,56828.9%+8.7 pts

153▼49Effingham, ILIL12,40629.1%+12.1 pts

154▲4Peoria Heights, ILIL5,76729.2%+13.5 pts

155▼3Richton Park, ILIL12,48329.3%+3.9 pts

156▲27Country Club Hills, ILIL16,21529.7%+6.9 pts

157▼4Glendale Heights, ILIL32,65529.9%+3.2 pts

158▲29Minooka, ILIL12,89930.4%+1.7 pts

159▼8Island Lake, ILIL8,04730.4%+6.9 pts

160▼34Bethalto, ILIL9,20230.4%+16.6 pts

161▲5Woodstock, ILIL25,74030.6%+7.7 pts

162▲6Mascoutah, ILIL9,23930.8%+11.5 pts

163▼21Collinsville, ILIL23,71731.0%+9.6 pts

164▼59Lake Holiday, ILIL5,64131.0%–

165▲11Poplar Grove, ILIL5,20631.1%+19.1 pts

166▲1Oak Forest, ILIL26,79231.2%+8.7 pts

167▼49Monee, ILIL5,11931.4%+14.3 pts

168▲60Lynwood, ILIL9,29731.4%+9.2 pts

169▼36Norridge, ILIL14,80831.5%+15.9 pts

170▲14Oak Lawn, ILIL56,45031.6%+10.6 pts

171▼6Eureka, ILIL5,12932.2%+10.6 pts

172▼15West Chicago, ILIL25,29632.2%+10.3 pts

173▲17Crete, ILIL8,34532.3%+4.4 pts

174▼10Godfrey, ILIL17,62032.4%+7.5 pts

175▲23Roscoe, ILIL11,03432.5%+11.0 pts

176▼33Elmwood Park, ILIL23,67532.6%+13.1 pts

177▼14Geneseo, ILIL6,50532.7%+8.8 pts

178▲11Frankfort Square, ILIL9,56032.9%+10.7 pts

179▲7Charleston, ILIL17,46633.3%+0.2 pts

180▲26DeKalb, ILIL40,46733.7%−4.2 pts

181▲18Bourbonnais, ILIL17,65834.1%+7.4 pts

182▼2Fairview Heights, ILIL16,17534.7%+8.4 pts

183▼11Manhattan, ILIL10,94335.0%+15.7 pts

184▼22Harwood Heights, ILIL8,76135.3%+18.6 pts

185▼11Mount Zion, ILIL5,88035.4%+11.5 pts

186▲36Macomb, ILIL14,53035.4%0.0 pts

187▲25Lake in the Hills, ILIL28,59035.8%+3.3 pts

188▼29Highland, ILIL10,04235.8%+14.0 pts

189▼4Villa Park, ILIL21,88836.3%+12.5 pts

190▼13Orland Hills, ILIL6,66336.3%+16.9 pts

191▼3Springfield, ILIL112,98936.3%+5.7 pts

192▲27Lakemoor, ILIL6,44936.5%+19.9 pts

193▲10Tinley Park, ILIL55,14037.0%+12.2 pts

194▼15Countryside, ILIL6,26037.0%+14.1 pts

195▼14Waterloo, ILIL11,13237.3%+18.0 pts

196▼5Peoria, ILIL110,92037.7%+9.6 pts

197▲8South Elgin, ILIL25,65637.7%+12.4 pts

198▼2Willow Springs, ILIL5,78837.9%+14.3 pts

199▲5Yorkville, ILIL26,73037.9%+13.3 pts

200▲16Wauconda, ILIL13,99338.2%+14.2 pts

201▼47Rockton, ILIL7,87038.4%+8.8 pts

202▼20Aurora, ILIL181,50538.5%+8.6 pts

203▲5Des Plaines, ILIL58,77238.9%+14.2 pts

204▲9Highwood, ILIL5,32339.1%+12.1 pts

205▲2Antioch, ILIL15,00039.2%+12.5 pts

206▼11Niles, ILIL30,44339.3%+14.5 pts

207▲4Bolingbrook, ILIL74,80339.6%+10.4 pts

208▼35Glenwood, ILIL8,41639.7%+11.8 pts

209Matteson, ILIL18,54339.7%+14.3 pts

210Homer Glen, ILIL24,87340.2%–

211▲9North Aurora, ILIL19,40640.5%+9.9 pts

212▲12Monticello, ILIL6,08040.7%+10.0 pts

213▲20Wheeling, ILIL38,39140.8%+8.6 pts

214Roselle, ILIL22,75640.9%+6.9 pts

215▲6Shorewood, ILIL18,53641.1%+7.5 pts

216▼14Elk Grove, ILIL31,88541.2%+9.6 pts

217▼23Prospect Heights, ILIL15,55241.3%+12.8 pts

218▲7Round Lake, ILIL18,52641.5%+20.3 pts

219▲4Crystal Lake, ILIL42,28842.0%+5.8 pts

220▲23Brookfield, ILIL18,87942.3%+16.2 pts

221▼24Huntley, ILIL29,13242.5%+19.9 pts

222▲26Mokena, ILIL19,89742.5%+7.8 pts

223▲22Swansea, ILIL14,35642.5%+15.1 pts

224▲8Gages Lake, ILIL10,81942.5%+5.0 pts

225▼33Evergreen Park, ILIL19,28342.7%+14.6 pts

226▲4Carol Stream, ILIL39,31542.8%+10.8 pts

227▼56North Riverside, ILIL7,16142.9%+18.8 pts

228▲28Pingree Grove, ILIL12,54542.9%+37.7 pts

229▼11Shiloh, ILIL14,60443.3%+10.7 pts

230▲16Algonquin, ILIL30,82443.6%+4.9 pts

231▲6Westchester, ILIL16,30043.6%+12.8 pts

232▲10Palos Heights, ILIL12,08443.6%+4.8 pts

233▼4Washington, ILIL15,90243.7%+13.1 pts

234▼33Rolling Meadows, ILIL23,69043.7%+12.7 pts

235▲3Maryville, ILIL8,41343.8%+16.0 pts

236▲14Oswego, ILIL39,94844.3%+10.7 pts

237▼6Chicago, ILIL2,731,58544.3%+18.9 pts

238▼38Lockport, ILIL27,82244.5%+21.9 pts

239▲24Cary, ILIL17,93244.7%+3.8 pts

240▼23Spring Grove, ILIL5,52644.9%+16.2 pts

241▲3Warrenville, ILIL15,21144.9%+5.2 pts

242▼15Bloomingdale, ILIL22,47645.0%+10.6 pts

243▼73Troy, ILIL11,89345.2%+21.0 pts

244▼3Orland Park, ILIL57,95445.4%+13.7 pts

245▼9Sugar Grove, ILIL9,38145.9%+12.6 pts

246▼12Sycamore, ILIL19,08346.0%+17.6 pts

247▼7Mundelein, ILIL32,68046.0%+6.2 pts

248▼22Morton, ILIL17,56546.4%+12.1 pts

249▲20Woodridge, ILIL34,02846.5%+7.5 pts

250▲4Carterville, ILIL5,83946.7%+15.0 pts

251▼16Lemont, ILIL18,51346.9%+14.9 pts

252▼13Homewood, ILIL18,77347.4%+6.5 pts

253▼2New Lenox, ILIL28,89347.6%+21.4 pts

254▲3Lindenhurst, ILIL14,81047.9%+10.1 pts

255▲6Carbondale, ILIL21,81148.2%+0.3 pts

256▲11Hoffman Estates, ILIL50,85848.5%+12.6 pts

257▼10Mount Prospect, ILIL55,39548.6%+13.2 pts

258Bloomington, ILIL78,80448.7%+9.0 pts

259▲19Columbia, ILIL10,86549.0%+20.5 pts

260▼45Gilberts, ILIL9,08249.5%+24.1 pts

261▼6Bartlett, ILIL40,85549.5%+11.2 pts

262▲6Lombard, ILIL44,39949.9%+13.9 pts

263▼14West Dundee, ILIL8,57050.0%+13.3 pts

264▼5Westmont, ILIL24,15550.1%+15.1 pts

265▲6Schaumburg, ILIL77,24950.4%+11.5 pts

266▲17Glen Carbon, ILIL13,89850.8%+8.4 pts

267▲6Palatine, ILIL65,84251.1%+9.7 pts

268▲9Forest Park, ILIL13,82951.5%+15.2 pts

269▼5St. Charles, ILIL33,59452.0%+9.1 pts

270▼17Volo, ILIL6,80552.2%+46.3 pts

271▼1O'Fallon, ILIL32,65652.4%+13.6 pts

272▲9Darien, ILIL22,03252.4%+8.9 pts

273▲13Edwardsville, ILIL26,46352.6%+10.7 pts

274▲2Champaign, ILIL91,19552.7%+8.4 pts

275▼23Itasca, ILIL9,48852.9%+20.0 pts

276▼1Normal, ILIL53,27552.9%+10.6 pts

277▲7Willowbrook, ILIL9,12653.1%+9.0 pts

278▼4Chatham, ILIL14,57953.2%+16.3 pts

279▼7Skokie, ILIL66,54453.8%+11.2 pts

280▼14Mahomet, ILIL10,51654.2%+16.9 pts

281▼16Morton Grove, ILIL24,58255.2%+20.7 pts

282▼20Elburn, ILIL7,08455.6%+21.3 pts

283▼23Lake Villa, ILIL8,69255.6%+18.8 pts

284▼2Plainfield, ILIL50,04356.0%+22.1 pts

285▲4Lincolnwood, ILIL13,03956.5%+8.3 pts

286▼6Batavia, ILIL26,58656.5%+13.9 pts

287▼2Gurnee, ILIL30,45856.7%+8.9 pts

288▲7Urbana, ILIL39,71956.7%+3.2 pts

289▲12La Grange Park, ILIL13,45357.3%+15.7 pts

290▲4Downers Grove, ILIL50,36558.2%+11.9 pts

291▼4Grayslake, ILIL21,14058.5%+7.7 pts

292Grandwood Park, ILIL5,26259.2%+16.1 pts

293▼3Frankfort, ILIL21,36559.3%+18.6 pts

294▲10Winfield, ILIL10,14659.7%+13.8 pts

295▼7Campton Hills, ILIL10,89459.7%–

296▼3Arlington Heights, ILIL76,21660.4%+13.9 pts

297▼18Lake Zurich, ILIL19,86860.7%+16.9 pts

298▲4Lisle, ILIL23,43261.9%+11.8 pts

299▼8Savoy, ILIL9,11363.3%+4.6 pts

300▲6Lake Barrington, ILIL5,13063.6%+7.2 pts

301▼5Geneva, ILIL21,13863.8%+10.6 pts

302▼2Elmhurst, ILIL46,11164.2%+19.1 pts

303▲4Flossmoor, ILIL9,35864.4%+3.5 pts

304▲1Wheaton, ILIL54,06564.5%+7.2 pts

305▼6Park Ridge, ILIL38,46366.1%+19.9 pts

306▲2Oak Brook, ILIL8,10866.4%+5.6 pts

307▲11Burr Ridge, ILIL11,17966.6%+8.4 pts

308▼5La Grange, ILIL15,93567.2%+12.2 pts

309▼12Vernon Hills, ILIL26,82567.8%+13.5 pts

310▲7Barrington, ILIL10,58668.0%+9.8 pts

311▲3Glen Ellyn, ILIL28,75068.2%+9.4 pts

312▼1Glenview, ILIL47,71168.3%+12.3 pts

313▲2Inverness, ILIL7,41868.5%+14.6 pts

314▼5Buffalo Grove, ILIL42,81268.6%+12.8 pts

315▼3Evanston, ILIL76,38069.5%+7.1 pts

316▲5Libertyville, ILIL20,70171.0%+14.9 pts

317▲10Clarendon Hills, ILIL8,68172.3%+7.3 pts

318▼20Riverside, ILIL8,93972.5%+21.3 pts

319▼3Naperville, ILIL153,11472.5%+11.9 pts

320Oak Park, ILIL52,82372.5%+10.4 pts

321▼2Northbrook, ILIL34,74472.6%+10.4 pts

322▲6River Forest, ILIL11,39372.9%+3.2 pts

323▼13South Barrington, ILIL5,07173.6%+11.0 pts

324▼11Long Grove, ILIL8,34375.7%+18.6 pts

325▼1Hawthorn Woods, ILIL9,67975.7%+15.6 pts

326▼1Highland Park, ILIL30,76776.9%+15.3 pts

327▼5Lincolnshire, ILIL7,96377.0%+10.7 pts

328▲2Lake Forest, ILIL19,73180.5%+6.7 pts

329▼6Northfield, ILIL5,63280.7%+12.5 pts

330▲1Hinsdale, ILIL17,57380.8%+12.2 pts

331▼2Lake Bluff, ILIL5,56381.6%+8.7 pts

332Deerfield, ILIL19,64282.1%+13.6 pts

333▲1Wilmette, ILIL27,45983.6%+11.0 pts

334▼8Western Springs, ILIL13,58883.8%+17.4 pts

335Winnetka, ILIL12,51886.7%+2.3 pts

336▼3Glencoe, ILIL8,72488.2%+8.4 pts

SHOWING 1–336 OF 336

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES