Which metro area has the lowest bachelor's degree or higher?

Newport, TN ranks #1 with 5.5% (1990 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 metro areas by bachelor's degree or higher?

Newport, TN, Summerville, GA, Lawrenceburg, TN, Rio Grande City-Roma, TX, Cedartown, GA.

How many metro areas are in this ranking?

918 metro areas qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is bachelor's degree or higher measured?

Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.

RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 418 SHOWN OF 918

Least educated, US metro areas · 1990

US metro areas with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS).

Flip the list · Most educated, US metro areas →

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties States ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

501Mason City, IAIA49,71014.8%–

502Terre Haute, ININ169,24114.9%–

503Hutchinson, KSKS61,53914.9%–

504Arkansas City, KSKS34,38214.9%–

505Tullahoma, TNTN69,33915.0%–

506Clovis, NMNM65,27015.0%–

507Sumter, SCSC105,06715.0%–

508Deltona, FLFL746,93315.0%–

509Alamogordo, NMNM70,36815.0%–

510Dover, DEDE194,78615.0%–

511Le Mars, IAIA25,69715.0%–

512Americus, GAGA33,39415.0%–

513Mitchell, SDSD25,91315.1%–

514Massena, NYNY105,48815.1%–

515Brenham, TXTX38,28815.1%–

516Macon-Bibb County, GAGA238,55315.1%–

517Jacksonville, ILIL37,38115.1%–

518Watertown, WIWI86,50515.1%–

519Reading, PAPA440,07215.1%–

520Guymon, OKOK20,32215.1%–

521Huron, SDSD19,62415.1%–

522Sandpoint, IDID54,42015.2%–

523Granbury, TXTX70,50115.2%–

524Cleveland, MSMS28,26215.2%–

525El Paso, TXTX881,29115.2%–

526Storm Lake, IAIA20,44915.2%–

527Gulfport, MSMS431,32915.3%–

528Johnson City, TNTN216,41615.3%–

529Gainesville, GAGA226,56815.4%–

530Elmira, NYNY80,41515.4%–

531Montrose, COCO44,59115.4%–

532Killeen, TXTX511,49715.5%–

533Evansville, ININ273,78615.5%–

534Glens Falls, NYNY124,37315.5%–

535Mobile, ALAL411,65815.5%–

536Waco, TXTX308,80715.6%–

537Lafayette, LALA423,75815.6%–

538Murrells Inlet, SCSC65,91215.6%–

539Chattanooga, TNTN594,53015.7%–

540Gillette, WYWY48,14515.7%–

541Willmar, MNMN44,72015.7%–

542Wenatchee, WAWA128,41415.7%–

543Marshalltown, IAIA39,89015.8%–

544Sioux City, IAIA145,73815.8%–

545Green Bay, WIWI336,75615.8%–

546Warner Robins, GAGA208,09115.8%–

547Mountain Home, IDID29,46515.8%–

548Lynchburg, VAVA269,16915.9%–

549Las Vegas, NMNM30,31115.9%–

550Wichita Falls, TXTX149,44815.9%–

551Corpus Christi, TXTX451,19115.9%–

552Utica, NYNY285,61115.9%–

553Charleston, WVWV200,17015.9%–

554Appleton, WIWI249,87615.9%–

555Owatonna, MNMN37,46416.0%–

556Port St. Lucie, FLFL568,72116.0%–

557Coeur d'Alene, IDID191,86416.0%–

558Fayetteville, NCNC395,41216.0%–

559Myrtle Beach, SCSC427,55116.0%–

560Lake of the Woods, VAVA40,08316.1%–

561Ruidoso, NMNM19,84416.1%–

562Monroe, LALA222,39016.1%–

563Sierra Vista, AZAZ126,33216.1%–

564Port Angeles, WAWA78,20216.1%–

565Cape Girardeau, MOMO99,21516.1%–

566Rockford, ILIL337,24216.2%–

567Morehead City, NCNC70,46916.2%–

568Erie, PAPA265,83216.2%–

569Kapaa, HIHI73,40016.3%–

570Mount Vernon, WAWA132,97516.3%–

571Carson, NVNV58,57116.3%–

572Fresno, CACA1,203,38316.3%–

573Duluth, MNMN281,21916.3%–

574Salisbury, MDMD131,87216.4%–

575Natchitoches, LALA36,08916.4%–

576Silver City, NMNM27,25216.4%–

577Cape Coral, FLFL875,60716.4%–

578Enterprise, ALAL56,95316.5%–

579Racine, WIWI198,91916.5%–

580Plattsburgh, NYNY78,13816.5%–

581Muncie, ININ113,10616.5%–

582Louisville, KYKY1,402,50916.5%–

583Altus, OKOK24,76416.5%–

584Riverton, WYWY39,46416.5%–

585Peoria, ILIL363,50516.6%–

586Waterloo, IAIA169,18916.6%–

587Rexburg, IDID69,38016.6%–

588Atlantic City, NJNJ372,04716.7%–

589Newport, OROR50,63616.7%–

590Lancaster, PAPA563,15916.7%–

591Jamestown, NDND21,41416.7%–

592Astoria, OROR40,92616.7%–

593Niles, MIMI152,44416.7%–

594Columbus, MSMS67,14416.8%–

595Roanoke, VAVA316,54716.8%–

596Dubuque, IAIA99,38116.8%–

597Bend, OROR266,37616.8%–

598St. Simons, GAGA118,52416.8%–

599Marshall, MNMN25,68416.8%–

600Daphne, ALAL267,76116.8%–

601Columbus, ININ85,72916.9%–

602Fayetteville, ARAR622,17716.9%–

603San Angelo, TXTX122,06516.9%–

604Durant, OKOK51,36716.9%–

605Shreveport, LALA383,47417.0%–

606St. Cloud, MNMN205,85417.0%–

607La Grande, OROR25,90017.0%–

608Eau Claire, WIWI176,64717.1%–

609Fredericksburg, TXTX28,52717.1%–

610Jefferson City, MOMO152,71217.1%–

611Savannah, GAGA438,31417.1%–

612Lexington Park, MDMD211,17617.2%–

613Wilmington, NCNC492,77217.2%–

614Kalispell, MTMT115,42917.2%–

615Davenport, IAIA380,45217.2%–

616Augusta, GAGA641,23117.2%–

617Tuscaloosa, ALAL281,85017.2%–

618Brigham City, UTUT70,40517.2%–

619Salina, KSKS59,12117.3%–

620Enid, OKOK61,77917.3%–

621Grand Junction, COCO162,84517.4%–

622McPherson, KSKS30,06417.4%–

623Tampa, FLFL3,418,89517.5%–

624Lewisburg, PAPA42,31317.5%–

625Toledo, OHOH599,37617.5%–

626Maryville, MOMO20,17417.5%–

627Spirit Lake, IAIA18,07717.5%–

628Whitewater, WIWI106,12717.5%–

629Winston-Salem, NCNC712,20617.6%–

630South Bend, ININ324,53817.6%–

631Greenville, SCSC1,014,10117.6%–

632East Stroudsburg, PAPA167,17917.6%–

633Weatherford, OKOK39,05917.6%–

634Springfield, MAMA464,33817.6%–

635Medford, OROR221,79517.6%–

636Springfield, MOMO500,69417.6%–

637Sheridan, WYWY33,24117.6%–

638Minot, NDND75,69417.6%–

639Allentown, PAPA887,61517.7%–

640Fort Wayne, ININ466,25817.7%–

641Bangor, MEME157,96717.7%–

642Houghton, MIMI40,02817.7%–

643St. George, UTUT213,67017.7%–

644Prescott Valley, AZAZ252,55217.7%–

645Kahului, HIHI160,67417.8%–

646Ukiah, CACA88,12217.8%–

647Detroit, MIMI4,390,91317.8%–

648Arkadelphia, ARAR20,93817.9%–

649Lawton, OKOK127,59017.9%–

650Butte-Silver Bow, MTMT36,11817.9%–

651Big Rapids, MIMI42,32017.9%–

652Brevard, NCNC34,21117.9%–

653Hood River, OROR23,72018.0%–

654Statesboro, GAGA97,97718.0%–

655Ada, OKOK38,52818.0%–

656Augusta, MEME129,06718.1%–

657Memphis, TNTN1,341,41218.1%–

658Pittsburgh, PAPA2,421,99218.1%–

659Grand Rapids, MIMI1,183,64518.1%–

660Dodge City, KSKS33,99318.1%–

661Birmingham, ALAL1,197,76618.1%–

662Oshkosh, WIWI174,21818.2%–

663Charlotte, NCNC2,938,83018.2%–

664Salem, OROR445,81418.2%–

665Alamosa, COCO27,89618.2%–

666Knoxville, TNTN968,13718.2%–

667Cortland, NYNY45,85018.2%–

668Pensacola, FLFL544,94918.3%–

669Jacksonville, FLFL1,785,50018.3%–

670Rolla, MOMO45,24718.3%–

671Greeley, COCO378,42618.4%–

672Great Falls, MTMT85,02918.4%–

673Amarillo, TXTX276,23518.4%–

674La Crosse, WIWI171,18218.4%–

675Frankfort, KYKY77,87418.5%–

676Taos, NMNM34,56418.5%–

677Hilo, HIHI210,04318.5%–

678Cleveland, OHOH2,165,77518.5%–

679Ponca City, OKOK43,49018.5%–

680Hudson, NYNY60,16818.5%–

681Yankton, SDSD23,63518.6%–

682Charleston, ILIL46,60718.7%–

683Asheville, NCNC422,34518.7%–

684Findlay, OHOH75,03418.7%–

685Pittsburg, KSKS39,00818.7%–

686Vallejo, CACA455,37618.7%–

687Abilene, TXTX185,42918.8%–

688Walla Walla, WAWA62,36118.8%–

689Cody, WYWY31,17118.8%–

690Charleston, SCSC889,26318.8%–

691Buffalo, NYNY1,155,65318.8%–

692New Orleans, LALA970,84918.8%–

693Hattiesburg, MSMS158,01418.8%–

694San Antonio, TXTX2,813,14018.9%–

695Kingsville, TXTX30,31518.9%–

696Huntsville, TXTX83,84219.0%–

697Vicksburg, MSMS41,75919.1%–

698Sebastian, FLFL172,79919.1%–

699North Port, FLFL948,15819.1%–

700Stevens Point, WIWI71,94319.1%–

701Greensboro, NCNC805,94519.2%–

702Spearfish, SDSD29,45919.2%–

703Petoskey, MIMI33,77519.2%–

704Akron, OHOH701,78019.2%–

705Cedar Rapids, IAIA279,28519.3%–

706Faribault, MNMN69,93919.3%–

707Murray, KYKY39,42119.4%–

708Sioux Falls, SDSD314,63819.4%–

709Menomonie, WIWI46,22319.4%–

710Cincinnati, OHOH2,312,85819.5%–

711Chico, CACA209,21119.5%–

712Providence, RIRI1,708,16119.5%–

713Harrisburg, PAPA617,42719.5%–

714Harrisonburg, VAVA140,15519.5%–

715Crestview, FLFL315,09819.5%–

716Tulsa, OKOK1,069,27319.6%–

717Winona, MNMN50,52319.7%–

718Aberdeen, SDSD41,58319.7%–

719Traverse City, MIMI156,97219.7%–

720Virginia Beach, VAVA1,797,21319.7%–

721Topeka, KSKS233,05219.8%–

722Tyler, TXTX252,54919.8%–

723Baton Rouge, LALA888,69919.8%–

724Bremerton, WAWA283,37419.8%–

725Pocatello, IDID91,59119.8%–

726Little Rock, ARAR777,60719.9%–

727Reno, NVNV578,73419.9%–

728Oneonta, NYNY60,58919.9%–

729Pinehurst, NCNC110,61919.9%–

730Spokane, WAWA608,01220.0%–

731Eureka, CACA131,64720.0%–

732Rapid City, SDSD156,93420.0%–

733Nashville, TNTN2,197,41620.0%–

734St. Louis, MOMO2,814,42120.0%–

735Oak Harbor, WAWA85,65720.0%–

736Indianapolis, ININ2,205,69520.0%–

737Nacogdoches, TXTX66,03520.0%–

738Boise City, IDID864,24320.1%–

739Gardnerville Ranchos, NVNV51,15420.1%–

740Binghamton, NYNY243,18920.1%–

741Miami, FLFL6,391,07220.1%–

742Kerrville, TXTX54,03720.2%–

743Ketchikan, AKAK13,54920.2%–

744Marquette, MIMI68,06420.3%–

745Stephenville, TXTX43,91120.3%–

746Key West, FLFL80,40620.3%–

747Casper, WYWY80,52620.4%–

748Dayton, OHOH826,55420.4%–

749Palm Bay, FLFL663,98220.4%–

750Bemidji, MNMN47,05520.4%–

751Laconia, NHNH65,14720.5%–

752Orlando, FLFL2,957,67220.5%–

753Kirksville, MOMO29,82420.5%–

754Rutland, VTVT59,65320.6%–

755Montgomery, ALAL388,74720.6%–

756Cheyenne, WYWY102,93820.7%–

757Emporia, KSKS34,83820.8%–

758Kennewick, WAWA324,33420.8%–

759Idaho Falls, IDID173,85120.9%–

760Pittsfield, MAMA128,22420.9%–

761Ogden, UTUT672,78421.0%–

762Wichita, KSKS663,80921.0%–

763Tahlequah, OKOK49,19621.1%–

764Billings, MTMT193,60321.1%–

765Lubbock, TXTX368,43121.2%–

766Des Moines, IAIA758,53921.2%–

767Milwaukee, WIWI1,575,01021.3%–

768Kill Devil Hills, NCNC38,24521.4%–

769Warrensburg, MOMO56,67021.4%–

770Phoenix, AZAZ5,228,93821.4%–

771Oklahoma City, OKOK1,512,81321.5%–

772Mount Pleasant, MIMI64,69121.5%–

773Jackson, MSMS609,84721.5%–

774Salinas, CACA433,72921.5%–

775Kingston, NYNY183,33021.6%–

776Bismarck, NDND139,75021.6%–

777Syracuse, NYNY652,27321.6%–

778Grand Forks, NDND105,04621.8%–

779Omaha, NENE1,009,83621.8%–

780Port Townsend, WAWA33,97021.8%–

781Springfield, ILIL206,03321.9%–

782Las Cruces, NMNM229,09121.9%–

783Greenville, NCNC182,93621.9%–

784Cedar City, UTUT67,14121.9%–

785Kiryas Joel, NYNY718,37721.9%–

786Bellingham, WAWA236,39222.0%–

787Columbus, OHOH2,242,02822.1%–

788Truckee, CACA101,91122.1%–

789Eugene, OROR381,58422.2%–

790Ellensburg, WAWA48,80322.2%–

791Worcester, MAMA888,50222.2%–

792Napa, CACA132,94922.3%–

793Naples, FLFL417,13122.3%–

794Philadelphia, PAPA6,329,11822.6%–

795Mankato, MNMN104,90722.6%–

796Morgantown, WVWV141,99522.6%–

797Blacksburg, VAVA181,61622.7%–

798Kearney, NENE57,96222.8%–

799Kansas City, MOMO2,270,68222.9%–

800Columbia, SCSC879,91822.9%–

801San Luis Obispo, CACA282,36722.9%–

802Oxnard, CACA830,85123.0%–

803Easton, MDMD38,23823.0%–

804Lebanon, NHNH224,50023.0%–

805Slidell, LALA279,10823.1%–

806Baltimore, MDMD2,857,78123.1%–

807Portland, OROR2,542,28223.2%–

808Macomb, ILIL25,91623.2%–

809Hilton Head Island, SCSC242,96623.2%–

810Richmond, VAVA1,389,33823.3%–

811Rochester, MNMN231,18423.3%–

812Tucson, AZAZ1,074,68523.3%–

813Rochester, NYNY1,056,14923.4%–

814Salt Lake City, UTUT1,308,37723.4%–

815Athens, OHOH63,19723.4%–

816Sacramento, CACA2,477,27423.4%–

817Hays, KSKS29,07523.4%–

818Bennington, VTVT36,63023.5%–

819Los Angeles, CACA12,844,44123.5%–

820Chicago, ILIL9,434,12323.6%–

821Auburn, ALAL208,01323.7%–

822Keene, NHNH78,26923.9%–

823Oxford, MSMS71,97223.9%–

824Portland, MEME577,63523.9%–

825Pierre, SDSD20,58824.0%–

826Houston, TXTX7,904,62724.0%–

827Greenfield, MAMA70,69824.2%–

828Albany, NYNY915,83524.4%–

829Barre, VTVT59,65224.4%–

830Albuquerque, NMNM925,27924.5%–

831Santa Rosa, CACA486,44424.5%–

832Honolulu, HIHI988,70324.6%–

833Flagstaff, AZAZ144,36824.6%–

834Lacey, WAWA304,26124.7%–

835Fargo, NDND269,52824.9%–

836Lansing, MIMI479,72224.9%–

837New York, NYNY20,112,44825.1%–

838Brattleboro, VTVT45,20425.2%–

839Fairbanks, AKAK93,97225.2%–

840Atlanta, GAGA6,482,18225.3%–

841San Diego, CACA3,282,24825.3%–

842Lexington, KYKY535,17425.4%–

843Concord, NHNH158,07825.4%–

844Midland, TXTX193,13925.5%–

845Anchorage, AKAK405,82125.5%–

846Dallas, TXTX8,477,15725.6%–

847Colorado Springs, COCO781,79625.8%–

848Bartlesville, OKOK54,03725.8%–

849Provo, UTUT773,42625.8%–

850Helena, MTMT97,15326.1%–

851Lafayette, ININ228,46826.1%–

852Ruston, LALA48,36026.2%–

853Manhattan, KSKS136,12226.3%–

854Manchester, NHNH433,41526.4%–

855Minneapolis, MNMN3,790,29526.4%–

856Steamboat Springs, COCO38,45126.6%–

857Santa Maria, CACA442,06526.6%–

858Lincoln, NENE352,08126.7%–

859Seattle, WAWA4,161,88326.9%–

860Jackson, WYWY36,58727.0%–

861Huntsville, ALAL556,44427.1%–

862Kalamazoo, MIMI263,79527.1%–

863Missoula, MTMT128,69827.1%–

864Heber, UTUT81,65527.2%–

865Brookings, SDSD37,63527.3%–

866Starkville, MSMS62,06327.3%–

867Boone, NCNC54,78627.4%–

868Midland, MIMI83,75427.4%–

869Barnstable, MAMA233,53928.1%–

870Durango, COCO56,89828.1%–

871Logan, UTUT160,88928.2%–

872Hailey, IDID32,43628.2%–

873Denver, COCO3,092,03728.7%–

874Bloomington, ILIL171,41929.0%–

875Burlington, VTVT227,80329.2%–

876Bloomington, ININ165,23129.4%–

877Trenton, NJNJ399,28929.5%–

878Carbondale, ILIL52,50129.5%–

879Madison, WIWI709,68529.7%–

880Santa Cruz, CACA258,85229.7%–

881Raleigh, NCNC1,595,72029.9%–

882Rifle, COCO80,09930.0%–

883Stillwater, OKOK83,88930.1%–

884Boston, MAMA5,034,22130.2%–

885Athens, GAGA224,14830.3%–

886Gainesville, FLFL359,03630.3%–

887Tallahassee, FLFL397,44230.5%–

888Austin, TXTX2,620,94530.7%–

889Juneau city and, AKAK31,60930.7%–

890College Station, TXTX287,47630.7%–

891Champaign, ILIL239,97931.1%–

892Charlottesville, VAVA228,59731.7%–

893Amherst, MAMA164,06531.9%–

894San Francisco, CACA4,630,04132.0%–

895Ames, IAIA128,09032.1%–

896Vineyard Haven, MAMA21,21932.1%–

897San Jose, CACA1,984,47332.1%–

898Breckenridge, COCO39,06932.2%–

899Santa Fe, NMNM156,90732.3%–

900Fort Collins, COCO377,29232.3%–

901State College, PAPA157,39332.3%–

902Columbia, MOMO219,06232.4%–

903Nantucket, MAMA14,75832.9%–

904Edwards, COCO54,29133.0%–

905Durham, NCNC625,48533.0%–

906Bozeman, MTMT128,74033.8%–

907Moscow, IDID41,84235.8%–

908Vermillion, SDSD15,03136.3%–

909Washington, DCDC6,465,72437.1%–

910Lawrence, KSKS120,92038.4%–

911Iowa City, IAIA182,71138.5%–

912Laramie, WYWY38,55838.5%–

913Corvallis, OROR97,72841.3%–

914Ithaca, NYNY104,04741.7%–

915Ann Arbor, MIMI370,21441.9%–

916Boulder, COCO328,56042.1%–

917Pullman, WAWA48,51242.6%–

918Los Alamos, NMNM19,40753.4%–

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS