Population and Social Characteristics

Highly Educated Americans Are Flocking to These Pockets of the US

Sam Stebbins

Published: November 5, 2024 3:38 pm

Last Updated: November 12, 2024 2:49 pm

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• For decades, the share of Americans who move to a new home has been falling. 
• But mobility rates among college-educated adults remain relatively high — and well-educated Americans are flocking to certain parts of the country in droves.
• Also: 2 Dividend Legends to Hold Forever

The share of Americans who move to a new home has been falling for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population, only 8.7% of the population packed up and moved in 2022 — compared to over 10% nearly every year in the 2010s, and over 15% throughout the 1990s. But while Americans are now far less likely to relocate than they have been in past years, there are certain demographic groups that remain highly mobile — including the college educated.

There are nearly 77.8 million Americans aged 25 or older with at least a bachelor’s degree, and five-year estimates from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey shows that 12% of them — 9.3 million in total — moved to a new home in 2022.

While the latest data shows that some number of adults with a four-year, post-graduate, or professional degree moved to new areas all over the U.S. in 2022, certain parts of the country stand out magnets for highly educated Americans.

Using five-year data from the 2022 ACS, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. counties and county equivalents highly-educated Americans are flocking to. Counties, as well as independent cities, are ranked on the number of adults 25 and older with at least bachelor’s degree who moved there in from a different county, a different state, or from abroad. To focus on places highly-educated Americans are moving to, relocations to a new home within a given county were not considered in this ranking.

Every county or county equivalent on this list reported an influx of at least 25,000 adults with a bachelor’s, graduate, or professional degree in 2022. One of these places drew in more than 90,000 adults with at least a bachelor’s degree that year.

Historically, college educated populations have been especially concentrated in coastal areas. In keeping with this historical trend, all but a handful of counties on this list are in coastal states, including nine in California and seven in Texas. But one characteristic every place on this list shares is its location within a major metropolitan area. (Here is a look at the cities Americans are flocking to.)

Not only are large cities typically well equipped to accommodate influxes of new residents, they also offer more economic opportunity. Considerations related to employment consistently rank among the most common reasons Americans decide to move — and densely populated urban areas often have a higher than average concentration of high-paying jobs, many of which require at least a bachelor’s degree.

In all but 10 counties on this list, a majority of households earn more than the national median household income of $75,149. Many of these same places are also already home to well educated populations. In 31 of the 39 counties on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher exceeds the 34.3% national bachelor’s degree attainment rate. (Here is a look at the top ranked colleges and universities in America.)

Editor’s note: Due to a data processing error, the migration estimates reported in an earlier version of this story were incorrect. These figures have been updated.  

Why It Matters

A four-year college education raises lifetime earning potential and reduces the likelihood of unemployment. Americans with at least a bachelor’s degree are also one of the most geographically mobile demographic groups in the United States. More than 9 million adults with at least a bachelor’s degree moved to a new home within the U.S. in 2022. While their reasons for moving may vary, a disproportionate share of them are now living in one of only a handful of U.S. counties. These popular destinations for highly-educated Americans are all either inside, or in close proximity to, a major city.

39. San Mateo County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25,039 (4.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 59.9% from different county in state; 27.0% from a different state; 13.1% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 161,021 (29.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 128,658 (23.5% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $149,907
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

38. Contra Costa County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25,164 (3.1% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 68.9% from different county in state; 19.9% from a different state; 11.1% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 219,701 (27.2% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 140,054 (17.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $120,020
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

37. Bexar County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25,805 (2.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.5% from different county in state; 48.3% from a different state; 12.2% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 244,258 (18.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 150,739 (11.6% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $67,275
• Location: San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX metro area

36. Riverside County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26,351 (1.7% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 67.6% from different county in state; 22.6% from a different state; 9.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 244,893 (15.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 138,553 (8.7% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $84,505
• Location: Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA metro area

35. Queens County, New York

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27,074 (1.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 56.6% from different county in state; 25.8% from a different state; 17.6% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 365,140 (21.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 229,323 (13.4% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $82,431
• Location: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area

34. Mecklenburg County, North Carolina

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27,114 (3.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.8% from different county in state; 66.3% from a different state; 8.9% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 234,207 (31.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 126,562 (16.8% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $79,265
• Location: Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC metro area

33. Hennepin County, Minnesota

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27,238 (3.1% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.0% from different county in state; 48.5% from a different state; 8.5% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 292,492 (33.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 173,206 (19.6% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $92,595
• Location: Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI metro area

32. Clark County, Nevada

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27,753 (1.8% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 3.0% from different county in state; 87.6% from a different state; 9.4% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 271,537 (17.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 140,322 (9.0% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $69,911
• Location: Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV metro area

31. Palm Beach County, Florida

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,078 (2.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.4% from different county in state; 57.0% from a different state; 13.7% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 258,721 (23.5% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 167,397 (15.2% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $76,066
• Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area

30. Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,119 (2.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.9% from different county in state; 63.1% from a different state; 13.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 204,967 (18.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 161,343 (14.8% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $57,537
• Location: Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD metro area

29. Denton County, Texas

Denton County Courthouse, Dent... (CC BY 2.0) by Nicolas Henderson

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,470 (4.7% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 57.5% from different county in state; 34.6% from a different state; 7.9% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 193,763 (31.7% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 98,721 (16.2% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $104,180
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

28. Orange County, Florida

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,505 (3.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.3% from different county in state; 41.3% from a different state; 21.4% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 231,437 (24.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 129,384 (13.4% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $72,629
• Location: Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL metro area

27. Tarrant County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,737 (2.1% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 52.1% from different county in state; 39.3% from a different state; 8.6% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 305,663 (22.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 157,272 (11.5% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $78,872
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

26. Montgomery County, Maryland

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28,956 (4.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2% from different county in state; 61.8% from a different state; 18.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 198,924 (27.3% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 239,200 (32.8% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $125,583
• Location: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area

25. Washington, D.C.

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29,604 (6.1% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: – 0% from different county in state; 83.3% from a different state; 16.7% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 124,860 (25.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 178,672 (36.9% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $101,722
• Location: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area

24. Hillsborough County, Florida

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29,650 (2.9% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.8% from different county in state; 50.0% from a different state; 16.2% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 231,039 (22.9% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 135,013 (13.4% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $70,612
• Location: Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL metro area

23. Wake County, North Carolina

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29,695 (3.9% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.1% from different county in state; 55.0% from a different state; 12.9% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 258,183 (33.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 167,522 (21.9% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $96,734
• Location: Raleigh, NC metro area

22. Broward County, Florida

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 30,513 (2.2% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.2% from different county in state; 40.6% from a different state; 20.2% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 299,209 (21.6% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 184,034 (13.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $70,331
• Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area

21. Miami-Dade County, Florida

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32,010 (1.7% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0% from different county in state; 40.0% from a different state; 42.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 388,029 (20.2% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 236,301 (12.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $64,215
• Location: Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL metro area

20. Suffolk County, Massachusetts

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33,085 (6.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.7% from different county in state; 42.6% from a different state; 14.7% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 146,861 (26.6% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 124,507 (22.6% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $87,669
• Location: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area

19. Collin County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33,214 (4.7% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 45.9% from different county in state; 41.7% from a different state; 12.3% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 240,100 (33.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 145,999 (20.5% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $113,255
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

18. San Francisco County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 33,675 (4.9% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 48.3% from different county in state; 34.9% from a different state; 16.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 238,669 (35.1% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 168,105 (24.7% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $136,689
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

17. Denver County, Colorado

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34,315 (6.6% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.2% from different county in state; 58.4% from a different state; 4.4% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 172,213 (33.2% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 109,571 (21.1% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $85,853
• Location: Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO metro area

16. Fulton County, Georgia

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 37,974 (5.2% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.6% from different county in state; 45.7% from a different state; 10.6% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 242,267 (33.2% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 174,601 (23.9% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $86,267
• Location: Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA metro area

15. Travis County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 39,111 (4.3% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.7% from different county in state; 51.2% from a different state; 12.1% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 301,552 (33.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 183,416 (20.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $92,731
• Location: Austin-Round Rock, TX metro area

14. Fairfax County, Virginia

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 40,634 (5.2% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.8% from different county in state; 48.8% from a different state; 15.4% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 248,678 (31.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 252,971 (32.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $145,165
• Location: Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV metro area

13. Dallas County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 41,266 (2.5% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.3% from different county in state; 44.8% from a different state; 13.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 353,037 (21.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 216,752 (12.9% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $70,732
• Location: Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX metro area

12. Alameda County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 45,562 (3.8% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 61.2% from different county in state; 23.7% from a different state; 15.1% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 343,246 (28.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 264,889 (22.2% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $122,488
• Location: San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA metro area

11. Kings County, New York

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 46,291 (2.5% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 50.3% from different county in state; 37.0% from a different state; 12.7% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 448,448 (24.1% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 303,276 (16.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $74,692
• Location: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area

10. Middlesex County, Massachusetts

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 48,225 (4.2% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.6% from different county in state; 42.4% from a different state; 16.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 330,386 (28.9% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 339,164 (29.6% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $121,304
• Location: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area

9. Santa Clara County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 51,437 (3.8% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.9% from different county in state; 32.3% from a different state; 28.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 377,331 (28.1% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 364,841 (27.2% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $153,792
• Location: San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA metro area

8. Orange County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 53,429 (2.4% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 56.1% from different county in state; 26.8% from a different state; 17.1% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 591,937 (26.9% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 347,881 (15.8% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $109,361
• Location: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area

7. San Diego County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 54,070 (2.4% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 34.3% from different county in state; 49.0% from a different state; 16.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 564,011 (25.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 362,670 (16.1% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $96,974
• Location: San Diego-Carlsbad, CA metro area

6. Maricopa County, Arizona

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 59,710 (2.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.5% from different county in state; 76.8% from a different state; 12.7% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 655,112 (21.9% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 389,961 (13.1% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $80,675
• Location: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ metro area

5. Harris County, Texas

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 60,342 (2.0% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.0% from different county in state; 37.7% from a different state; 21.2% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 629,798 (20.8% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 376,051 (12.4% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $70,789
• Location: Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX metro area

4. King County, Washington

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 62,148 (3.8% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.8% from different county in state; 63.4% from a different state; 21.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 519,110 (32.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 370,839 (22.9% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $116,340
• Location: Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA metro area

3. Cook County, Illinois

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 63,743 (1.8% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.0% from different county in state; 57.2% from a different state; 19.8% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 874,091 (24.0% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 628,623 (17.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $78,304
• Location: Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI metro area

2. New York County, New York

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 64,940 (5.1% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 28.3% from different county in state; 49.1% from a different state; 22.6% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 410,095 (32.4% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 385,349 (30.4% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $99,880
• Location: New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metro area

1. Los Angeles County, California

• New residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 90,955 (1.3% of 25 and older population)
• Origin of new residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.8% from different county in state; 43.1% from a different state; 21.0% from abroad
• Total number of residents with a bachelor’s degree: 1,542,422 (22.3% of 25 and older population)
• Total number of residents with a graduate or professional degree: 847,137 (12.3% of 25 and older population)
• Median household income: $83,411
• Location: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro area