RANKING · 2024 ACS · 123 SHOWN OF 123

Least educated, Massachusetts cities

Massachusetts cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). This list covers the 123 cities in Massachusetts that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 123 is 45.6%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: North Westport, MA, up 18 places to #5.

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MassachusettsAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01▲5Ware, MAMA6,36915.4%+4.1 pts

02▲1Fall River, MAMA95,29816.4%+5.7 pts

03▼2Spencer, MAMA5,66116.8%+2.5 pts

04▼2Lawrence, MAMA89,32016.8%+6.9 pts

05▲18North Westport, MAMA5,28917.0%+1.7 pts

06▼1New Bedford, MAMA101,83417.0%+6.3 pts

07▲5Webster, MAMA12,22818.8%+5.9 pts

08▼4Southbridge, MAMA18,10519.4%–

09▲1Springfield, MAMA154,70220.5%+5.1 pts

10▼2Athol, MAMA8,80121.9%+10.6 pts

11▲2Chelsea, MAMA40,13022.2%+12.2 pts

12▼5Brockton, MAMA106,13422.3%+8.4 pts

13▲1Chicopee, MAMA55,31022.9%+10.6 pts

14▲10Palmer, MAMA12,36723.5%–

15▼6Gardner, MAMA21,48323.8%+8.6 pts

16▲2Taunton, MAMA62,52223.9%+8.8 pts

17▲10Clinton, MAMA7,65824.1%+3.7 pts

18▼7Lynn, MAMA104,23624.1%+7.7 pts

19▲2Revere, MAMA60,14124.6%+11.1 pts

20▼1Everett, MAMA53,57224.9%+10.2 pts

21▼6Fitchburg, MAMA42,13625.1%+9.6 pts

22Adams, MAMA5,42725.4%+11.5 pts

23▼7Holyoke, MAMA38,02325.9%+9.0 pts

24▲11Bliss Corner, MAMA5,40527.1%+11.3 pts

25▼8North Adams, MAMA12,36828.4%+14.4 pts

26▼1Lowell, MAMA119,97130.0%+11.8 pts

27Methuen, MAMA54,58431.0%–

28▲3Oxford, MAMA5,67131.2%+15.6 pts

29Saugus, MAMA28,77331.4%+12.1 pts

30▼2Whitinsville, MAMA7,11532.0%+8.2 pts

31▼11Middleborough Center, MAMA8,15532.2%+15.2 pts

32Haverhill, MAMA68,36132.6%+9.2 pts

33▲9Milford, MAMA27,73132.6%+7.7 pts

34▲7Westfield, MAMA40,54633.2%+9.0 pts

35▼1Leominster, MAMA44,19433.5%+11.6 pts

36▲12Agawam, MAMA28,78334.0%–

37▲6West Springfield, MAMA28,82934.0%–

38▲1Attleboro, MAMA47,44734.0%+10.5 pts

39▼1Pittsfield, MAMA42,90934.2%+13.7 pts

40Pinehurst, MAMA6,84534.2%+13.0 pts

41▼11South Yarmouth, MAMA11,55234.4%+11.4 pts

42▼9Holbrook, MAMA11,38034.6%+16.3 pts

43▲4Peabody, MAMA55,95335.0%+11.9 pts

44▼7Worcester, MAMA213,86235.2%+11.9 pts

45▲1Bellingham, MAMA5,32535.3%+15.8 pts

46▼20Randolph, MAMA34,94835.5%–

47▼11Somerset, MAMA18,29837.6%+17.9 pts

48Easthampton, MAMA15,85138.0%–

49▼4Plymouth, MAMA7,91839.0%+15.3 pts

50West Yarmouth, MAMA6,19439.1%+16.4 pts

51▼7Greenfield, MAMA17,69139.1%+15.9 pts

52Bridgewater, MAMA29,30939.5%–

53▼2Abington, MAMA17,05340.0%+17.9 pts

54Gloucester, MAMA30,62740.3%+12.8 pts

55▲1Marlborough, MAMA42,77240.5%+4.9 pts

56▲3Barnstable, MAMA50,10142.1%–

57▼2Weymouth, MAMA59,75942.8%–

58▲4Hudson, MAMA15,71943.5%+17.7 pts

59Amesbury, MAMA17,58844.8%–

60▲1Kingston, MAMA5,91044.8%+14.8 pts

61▼3Malden, MAMA66,37045.1%+18.9 pts

62▼5Winthrop, MAMA18,64745.6%–

63▲17Mansfield Center, MAMA7,22245.7%+15.9 pts

64▼4North Attleborough, MAMA31,50646.4%–

65▲4Woburn, MAMA43,96246.5%+17.0 pts

66▼17East Harwich, MAMA5,65447.5%+15.0 pts

67▼4Braintree, MAMA38,95747.5%–

68▼3Salem, MAMA45,38147.8%+16.6 pts

69▼5Danvers, MAMA28,09848.4%+15.3 pts

70▲5Framingham, MAMA73,02148.7%+6.4 pts

71▼18East Falmouth, MAMA6,24549.5%+23.0 pts

72▲16Marshfield, MAMA5,16149.9%+18.9 pts

73▼6Quincy, MAMA103,17350.3%+18.5 pts

74▼3Wilmington, MAMA23,33650.4%+19.0 pts

75▲2Hull, MAMA10,13850.4%+20.3 pts

76▼8Salisbury, MAMA5,65650.6%+32.0 pts

77▼7Foxborough, MAMA6,25151.3%+21.8 pts

78▼12Nantucket, MAMA10,01752.8%+16.7 pts

79▼5Beverly, MAMA43,36353.4%+16.8 pts

80▲2Yarmouth Port, MAMA5,96154.8%+17.7 pts

81▼2Boston, MAMA672,97354.9%+19.3 pts

82▲4Dedham, MAMA25,23755.0%+22.0 pts

83▼7Norwood, MAMA31,54255.4%+16.2 pts

84▼12Stoneham, MAMA23,35555.9%+24.3 pts

85▼4Waltham, MAMA65,03757.3%+18.8 pts

86▼1Franklin, MAMA33,95558.1%–

87▲2Burlington, MAMA26,27458.4%+15.8 pts

88▼5Wakefield, MAMA27,79359.7%+20.0 pts

89▼5Medford, MAMA59,83459.8%+28.1 pts

90▲4Melrose, MAMA29,59762.0%+21.9 pts

91▼1Swampscott, MAMA15,27762.2%+11.9 pts

92Northampton, MAMA31,04762.7%+16.6 pts

93▼2Lynnfield, MAMA13,06462.7%+13.4 pts

94▼7Maynard, MAMA10,71264.2%+26.0 pts

95▲5Northborough, MAMA6,39264.5%+19.0 pts

96▼23Scituate, MAMA5,79664.7%+22.8 pts

97The Pinehills, MAMA5,28265.2%–

98▼20Walpole, MAMA6,46165.6%+29.6 pts

99▼1Reading, MAMA25,61266.3%+18.5 pts

100Watertown, MAMA35,71066.5%–

101▼6Newburyport, MAMA19,14867.0%+24.7 pts

102▼9Longmeadow, MAMA15,69667.1%+6.4 pts

103▲1Andover, MAMA9,45168.1%+11.2 pts

104▼5West Concord, MAMA5,87668.7%+14.9 pts

105▼4Somerville, MAMA84,21169.4%+28.8 pts

106▼10Milton, MAMA28,58771.9%+19.8 pts

107▼4Medfield, MAMA6,84972.9%+14.5 pts

108▼2North Scituate, MAMA6,49273.3%+21.0 pts

109▼1Williamstown, MAMA5,07075.4%+15.3 pts

110▼8Amherst, MAMA40,92075.6%–

111▼6Arlington, MAMA46,35076.1%+23.3 pts

112▼1Cochituate, MAMA6,47177.0%+14.2 pts

113▼6Marblehead, MAMA20,41378.3%+16.8 pts

114▼1Hingham, MAMA5,13079.1%+19.0 pts

115▼5Winchester, MAMA23,40679.5%+14.5 pts

116Cambridge, MAMA122,58880.8%+15.6 pts

117▼5Belmont, MAMA27,17580.9%+17.7 pts

118▼3Newton, MAMA90,74181.1%+13.1 pts

119▼10Sharon, MAMA6,23281.3%+23.7 pts

120▼6Needham, MAMA32,45981.9%+17.1 pts

121▼2Lexington, MAMA34,29584.3%+15.2 pts

122▼5Brookline, MAMA63,26685.4%+8.5 pts

123▼5Wellesley, MAMA30,34789.0%+13.1 pts

SHOWING 1–123 OF 123

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