RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 119 SHOWN OF 119

Least educated, Massachusetts cities · 2020

Massachusetts cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2020 ACS). This list covers the 119 cities in Massachusetts that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 119 is 41.7%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Spencer, MAMA5,6616.4%−7.9 pts

02Lawrence, MAMA89,32012.5%+2.5 pts

03Fall River, MAMA95,29815.9%+5.2 pts

04Southbridge, MAMA18,10516.6%–

05New Bedford, MAMA101,83416.9%+6.2 pts

06Ware, MAMA6,36917.7%+6.4 pts

07Brockton, MAMA106,13418.4%+4.4 pts

08Athol, MAMA8,80118.8%+7.4 pts

09Gardner, MAMA21,48318.9%+3.6 pts

10Springfield, MAMA154,70219.0%+3.6 pts

11Lynn, MAMA104,23619.5%+3.1 pts

12Webster, MAMA12,22819.7%+6.9 pts

13Chelsea, MAMA40,13019.9%+9.8 pts

14Chicopee, MAMA55,31020.8%+8.5 pts

15Fitchburg, MAMA42,13621.4%+6.0 pts

16Holyoke, MAMA38,02322.0%+5.1 pts

17North Adams, MAMA12,36822.6%+8.6 pts

18Taunton, MAMA62,52222.7%+7.5 pts

19Everett, MAMA53,57223.7%+9.0 pts

20Middleborough Center, MAMA8,15524.0%+7.0 pts

21Revere, MAMA60,14124.1%+10.6 pts

22Adams, MAMA5,42724.1%+10.2 pts

23North Westport, MAMA5,28926.0%+10.7 pts

24Palmer, MAMA12,36726.3%–

25Lowell, MAMA119,97127.3%+9.2 pts

26Randolph, MAMA34,94827.6%–

27Clinton, MAMA7,65828.5%+8.2 pts

28Whitinsville, MAMA7,11528.6%+4.8 pts

29Saugus, MAMA28,77328.7%+9.5 pts

30South Yarmouth, MAMA11,55228.9%+6.0 pts

31Oxford, MAMA5,67129.4%+13.8 pts

32Haverhill, MAMA68,36129.4%+6.0 pts

33Holbrook, MAMA11,38029.6%+11.3 pts

34Leominster, MAMA44,19429.8%+7.8 pts

35Bliss Corner, MAMA5,40530.2%+14.4 pts

36Somerset, MAMA18,29830.4%+10.7 pts

37Worcester, MAMA213,86231.2%+7.8 pts

38Pittsfield, MAMA42,90931.2%+10.7 pts

39Attleboro, MAMA47,44731.7%+8.2 pts

40Pinehurst, MAMA6,84531.8%+10.5 pts

41Westfield, MAMA40,54632.2%+8.0 pts

42Milford, MAMA27,73132.3%+7.3 pts

43West Springfield, MAMA28,82932.4%–

44Greenfield, MAMA17,69133.2%+9.9 pts

45Plymouth, MAMA7,91833.3%+9.5 pts

46Bellingham, MAMA5,32534.0%+14.5 pts

47Peabody, MAMA55,95334.6%+11.5 pts

48Agawam, MAMA28,78335.3%–

49East Harwich, MAMA5,65437.2%+4.7 pts

50West Yarmouth, MAMA6,19437.9%+15.2 pts

51Abington, MAMA17,05338.2%+16.2 pts

52Bridgewater, MAMA29,30938.6%–

53East Falmouth, MAMA6,24538.6%+12.0 pts

54Gloucester, MAMA30,62739.2%+11.7 pts

55Weymouth, MAMA59,75940.0%–

56Marlborough, MAMA42,77240.4%+4.8 pts

57Winthrop, MAMA18,64740.5%–

58Malden, MAMA66,37040.6%+14.5 pts

59Barnstable, MAMA50,10140.9%–

60North Attleborough, MAMA31,50641.7%–

61Kingston, MAMA5,91042.4%+12.4 pts

62Hudson, MAMA15,71943.1%+17.3 pts

63Braintree, MAMA38,95744.4%–

64Danvers, MAMA28,09844.7%+11.7 pts

65Salem, MAMA45,38145.1%+14.0 pts

66Nantucket, MAMA10,01745.3%+9.2 pts

67Quincy, MAMA103,17345.6%+13.9 pts

68Salisbury, MAMA5,65646.5%+27.9 pts

69Woburn, MAMA43,96247.1%+17.6 pts

70Foxborough, MAMA6,25147.1%+17.7 pts

71Wilmington, MAMA23,33648.3%+16.9 pts

72Stoneham, MAMA23,35549.0%+17.4 pts

73Scituate, MAMA5,79649.1%+7.3 pts

74Beverly, MAMA43,36349.4%+12.9 pts

75Framingham, MAMA73,02149.8%+7.4 pts

76Norwood, MAMA31,54250.1%+10.9 pts

77Hull, MAMA10,13850.2%+20.1 pts

78Walpole, MAMA6,46150.6%+14.6 pts

79Boston, MAMA672,97351.3%+15.8 pts

80Mansfield Center, MAMA7,22251.7%+21.9 pts

81Waltham, MAMA65,03752.5%+14.1 pts

82Yarmouth Port, MAMA5,96153.0%+16.0 pts

83Wakefield, MAMA27,79353.6%+13.9 pts

84Medford, MAMA59,83454.7%+23.0 pts

85Franklin, MAMA33,95555.3%–

86Dedham, MAMA25,23755.4%+22.4 pts

87Maynard, MAMA10,71256.7%+18.5 pts

88Marshfield, MAMA5,16157.6%+26.6 pts

89Burlington, MAMA26,27458.5%+15.9 pts

90Swampscott, MAMA15,27759.2%+8.9 pts

91Lynnfield, MAMA13,06459.5%+10.1 pts

92Northampton, MAMA31,04760.8%+14.7 pts

93Longmeadow, MAMA15,69660.8%+0.1 pts

94Melrose, MAMA29,59761.1%+21.1 pts

95Newburyport, MAMA19,14862.3%+20.1 pts

96Milton, MAMA28,58762.5%+10.3 pts

97The Pinehills, MAMA5,28263.2%–

98Reading, MAMA25,61263.4%+15.6 pts

99West Concord, MAMA5,87663.5%+9.7 pts

100Northborough, MAMA6,39263.8%+18.3 pts

101Somerville, MAMA84,21165.7%+25.1 pts

102Amherst, MAMA40,92071.0%–

103Medfield, MAMA6,84971.1%+12.7 pts

104Andover, MAMA9,45171.2%+14.4 pts

105Arlington, MAMA46,35072.5%+19.7 pts

106North Scituate, MAMA6,49273.4%+21.1 pts

107Marblehead, MAMA20,41373.4%+11.9 pts

108Williamstown, MAMA5,07075.0%+14.9 pts

109Sharon, MAMA6,23275.2%+17.6 pts

110Winchester, MAMA23,40675.3%+10.4 pts

111Cochituate, MAMA6,47176.1%+13.2 pts

112Belmont, MAMA27,17576.4%+13.3 pts

113Hingham, MAMA5,13076.6%+16.5 pts

114Needham, MAMA32,45978.1%+13.2 pts

115Newton, MAMA90,74178.7%+10.7 pts

116Cambridge, MAMA122,58879.1%+13.9 pts

117Brookline, MAMA63,26683.6%+6.6 pts

118Wellesley, MAMA30,34784.0%+8.2 pts

119Lexington, MAMA34,29584.9%+15.8 pts

SHOWING 1–119 OF 119

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS