The average cost of a college education in the United States is $35,720 a year — three times higher than it was two decades ago. While rising tuition costs are discouraging many Americans from enrolling, a college education is an investment that can increase access to career opportunities, improve job security, and raise earning potential.
Nationwide, an estimated 32.1% of American adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment rates vary considerably across the country, however, and in every state, there is at least one town where the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is well below the national average.
Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the least educated town in every state. For the purposes of this story, towns are defined as any place covered by the census within the 50 states and Washington D.C. with at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among adults with a four-year college education was 5.5% 2020. Meanwhile, the jobless rate among those with no more than a high school diploma was 9.0%. In all but seven towns on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate among the 25 to 64-year-old population is higher than the comparable rate across the state as a whole.
In addition to being better protected from unemployment, Americans with a bachelor’s degree also tend to have higher salaries. The average weekly wage for a college-educated worker in the United States is about 67% higher than it is for those with no more than a high school diploma — and in places with lower educational attainment, incomes also tend to be lower than average. In nearly every town on this list, the typical household earns less in a year than the statewide median household income.
Click here to see the least educated town in every state.
Click here for our detailed methodology.
Alabama: Clayton
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.7% (Alabama: 25.5%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 61.8% (Alabama: 86.2%)
> Median household income: $27,639 (Alabama: $50,536)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.4% (Alabama: 5.9%)
> Population: 2,884
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Alaska: Metlakatla
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 10.4% (Alaska: 29.6%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 92.0% (Alaska: 92.8%)
> Median household income: $56,188 (Alaska: $77,640)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 17.7% (Alaska: 7.2%)
> Population: 1,654
Arizona: Second Mesa
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.7% (Arizona: 29.5%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 84.8% (Arizona: 87.1%)
> Median household income: $36,563 (Arizona: $58,945)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.7% (Arizona: 5.9%)
> Population: 1,823
Arkansas: North Crossett
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.2% (Arkansas: 23.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 84.7% (Arkansas: 86.6%)
> Median household income: $53,516 (Arkansas: $47,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.3% (Arkansas: 5.1%)
> Population: 2,802
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California: Calipatria
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.6% (California: 33.9%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 60.8% (California: 83.3%)
> Median household income: $36,883 (California: $75,235)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 20.4% (California: 6.1%)
> Population: 7,395
Colorado: Derby
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 5.1% (Colorado: 40.9%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 61.3% (Colorado: 91.7%)
> Median household income: $52,554 (Colorado: $72,331)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.5% (Colorado: 4.3%)
> Population: 8,962
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Connecticut: Jewett City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 6.3% (Connecticut: 39.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 83.5% (Connecticut: 90.6%)
> Median household income: $49,311 (Connecticut: $78,444)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 10.2% (Connecticut: 6.0%)
> Population: 3,385
Delaware: Woodside East
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 13.8% (Delaware: 32.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 69.9% (Delaware: 90.0%)
> Median household income: $61,406 (Delaware: $68,287)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.1% (Delaware: 5.5%)
> Population: 2,427
Florida: Moon Lake
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.2% (Florida: 29.9%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 73.5% (Florida: 88.2%)
> Median household income: $35,469 (Florida: $55,660)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 8.9% (Florida: 5.6%)
> Population: 4,312
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Georgia: Nicholls
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.1% (Georgia: 31.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 66.1% (Georgia: 87.1%)
> Median household income: $27,563 (Georgia: $58,700)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 8.3% (Georgia: 5.7%)
> Population: 3,836
Hawaii: Nanakuli
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 11.0% (Hawaii: 33.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 91.6% (Hawaii: 92.0%)
> Median household income: $75,031 (Hawaii: $81,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 11.9% (Hawaii: 4.3%)
> Population: 11,461
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Idaho: Wilder
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.3% (Idaho: 27.6%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 56.2% (Idaho: 90.8%)
> Median household income: $39,696 (Idaho: $55,785)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.5% (Idaho: 4.3%)
> Population: 1,770
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Illinois: Ina
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 1.9% (Illinois: 34.7%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 60.5% (Illinois: 89.2%)
> Median household income: $40,455 (Illinois: $65,886)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.0% (Illinois: 5.9%)
> Population: 2,410
Indiana: Austin
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.6% (Indiana: 26.5%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 75.8% (Indiana: 88.8%)
> Median household income: $34,163 (Indiana: $56,303)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.4% (Indiana: 4.8%)
> Population: 3,725
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Iowa: Tama
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 7.7% (Iowa: 28.6%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 82.5% (Iowa: 92.1%)
> Median household income: $50,792 (Iowa: $60,523)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.5% (Iowa: 3.7%)
> Population: 2,769
Kansas: Liberal
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 9.9% (Kansas: 33.4%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 66.2% (Kansas: 91.0%)
> Median household income: $48,629 (Kansas: $59,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.0% (Kansas: 4.1%)
> Population: 19,731
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Kentucky: Vanceburg
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.7% (Kentucky: 24.2%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 67.4% (Kentucky: 86.3%)
> Median household income: $17,197 (Kentucky: $50,589)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.7% (Kentucky: 5.6%)
> Population: 1,462
Louisiana: Henderson
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.2% (Louisiana: 24.1%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 53.5% (Louisiana: 85.2%)
> Median household income: $32,973 (Louisiana: $49,469)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.4% (Louisiana: 6.5%)
> Population: 1,990
Maine: Fairfield
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 6.8% (Maine: 31.8%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 82.5% (Maine: 92.6%)
> Median household income: $23,718 (Maine: $57,918)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.4% (Maine: 4.1%)
> Population: 3,027
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Maryland: Hancock
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 8.3% (Maryland: 40.2%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 88.2% (Maryland: 90.2%)
> Median household income: $45,588 (Maryland: $84,805)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.1% (Maryland: 5.1%)
> Population: 1,587
Massachusetts: Spencer
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 9.6% (Massachusetts: 43.7%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 87.5% (Massachusetts: 90.8%)
> Median household income: $59,331 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.8% (Massachusetts: 4.8%)
> Population: 5,792
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Michigan: Hartford
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.7% (Michigan: 29.1%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 76.6% (Michigan: 90.8%)
> Median household income: $36,228 (Michigan: $57,144)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 14.1% (Michigan: 5.9%)
> Population: 2,595
Minnesota: Sandstone
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 7.9% (Minnesota: 36.1%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 92.7% (Minnesota: 93.1%)
> Median household income: $39,750 (Minnesota: $71,306)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.0% (Minnesota: 3.6%)
> Population: 2,670
Mississippi: Tchula
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.1% (Mississippi: 22.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 73.4% (Mississippi: 84.5%)
> Median household income: $14,489 (Mississippi: $45,081)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 20.9% (Mississippi: 7.5%)
> Population: 1,924
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Missouri: Licking
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.9% (Missouri: 29.2%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 82.9% (Missouri: 89.9%)
> Median household income: $28,086 (Missouri: $55,461)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 11.7% (Missouri: 4.6%)
> Population: 2,705
Montana: Forsyth
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 12.4% (Montana: 32.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 84.2% (Montana: 93.6%)
> Median household income: $41,328 (Montana: $54,970)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 0.0% reported (Montana: 4.0%)
> Population: 1,495
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Nebraska: Madison
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 9.5% (Nebraska: 31.9%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 66.5% (Nebraska: 91.4%)
> Median household income: $50,880 (Nebraska: $61,439)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.3% (Nebraska: 3.3%)
> Population: 2,561
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Nevada: Carlin
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.7% (Nevada: 24.7%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 92.7% (Nevada: 86.7%)
> Median household income: $78,929 (Nevada: $60,365)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.9% (Nevada: 6.2%)
> Population: 2,025
New Hampshire: Farmington
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 11.2% (New Hampshire: 37.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 87.7% (New Hampshire: 93.1%)
> Median household income: $56,000 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.2% (New Hampshire: 3.6%)
> Population: 4,477
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New Jersey: Bridgeton
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 5.9% (New Jersey: 39.7%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 66.2% (New Jersey: 89.8%)
> Median household income: $37,804 (New Jersey: $82,545)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.9% (New Jersey: 5.5%)
> Population: 24,540
New Mexico: Pecos
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.5% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 77.1% (New Mexico: 85.6%)
> Median household income: $32,702 (New Mexico: $49,754)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.9% (New Mexico: 6.7%)
> Population: 1,468
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New York: Dannemora
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.6% (New York: 36.6%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 77.5% (New York: 86.8%)
> Median household income: $56,339 (New York: $68,486)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 8.4% (New York: 5.5%)
> Population: 3,958
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North Carolina: Polkton
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.0% (North Carolina: 31.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 73.1% (North Carolina: 87.8%)
> Median household income: $39,808 (North Carolina: $54,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.9% (North Carolina: 5.6%)
> Population: 2,921
North Dakota: Grafton
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 14.2% (North Dakota: 30.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 81.6% (North Dakota: 92.6%)
> Median household income: $52,760 (North Dakota: $64,894)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.1% (North Dakota: 2.8%)
> Population: 4,182
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Ohio: Crooksville
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.7% (Ohio: 28.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 88.8% (Ohio: 90.4%)
> Median household income: $30,463 (Ohio: $56,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 12.3% (Ohio: 5.3%)
> Population: 2,556
Oklahoma: Helena
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 6.1% (Oklahoma: 25.5%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 73.7% (Oklahoma: 88.0%)
> Median household income: $73,359 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.0% (Oklahoma: 5.1%)
> Population: 1,423
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Oregon: Sweet Home
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 5.9% (Oregon: 33.7%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 81.0% (Oregon: 90.7%)
> Median household income: $43,589 (Oregon: $62,818)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 8.8% (Oregon: 5.5%)
> Population: 9,619
Pennsylvania: Marienville
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 4.4% (Pennsylvania: 31.4%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 78.1% (Pennsylvania: 90.5%)
> Median household income: $36,691 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.9% (Pennsylvania: 5.3%)
> Population: 4,045
Rhode Island: Central Falls
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 8.1% (Rhode Island: 34.2%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 64.9% (Rhode Island: 88.8%)
> Median household income: $32,982 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.8% (Rhode Island: 5.4%)
> Population: 19,429
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South Carolina: Homeland Park
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 2.4% (South Carolina: 28.1%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 71.1% (South Carolina: 87.5%)
> Median household income: $30,399 (South Carolina: $53,199)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.7% (South Carolina: 5.8%)
> Population: 5,988
South Dakota: Pine Ridge
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 8.3% (South Dakota: 28.8%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 74.3% (South Dakota: 91.7%)
> Median household income: $43,455 (South Dakota: $58,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 11.2% (South Dakota: 3.4%)
> Population: 3,682
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Tennessee: Whiteville
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.4% (Tennessee: 27.3%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 68.5% (Tennessee: 87.5%)
> Median household income: $36,094 (Tennessee: $53,320)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.6% (Tennessee: 5.3%)
> Population: 4,501
Texas: Cactus
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 0.0% reported (Texas: 29.9%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 27.3% (Texas: 83.7%)
> Median household income: $40,417 (Texas: $61,874)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 0.5% (Texas: 5.1%)
> Population: 3,245
Utah: Gunnison
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 9.3% (Utah: 34.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 88.0% (Utah: 92.3%)
> Median household income: $63,816 (Utah: $71,621)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.7% (Utah: 3.6%)
> Population: 3,434
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Vermont: Richford
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 8.4% (Vermont: 38.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 69.2% (Vermont: 92.7%)
> Median household income: $43,125 (Vermont: $61,973)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 10.2% (Vermont: 3.6%)
> Population: 1,639
Virginia: Victoria
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 7.6% (Virginia: 38.8%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 76.3% (Virginia: 89.7%)
> Median household income: $34,318 (Virginia: $74,222)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.8% (Virginia: 4.6%)
> Population: 2,122
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Washington: Granger
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.6% (Washington: 36.0%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 50.0% (Washington: 91.3%)
> Median household income: $49,958 (Washington: $73,775)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 16.8% (Washington: 5.0%)
> Population: 3,756
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West Virginia: Terra Alta
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 3.9% (West Virginia: 20.6%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 84.8% (West Virginia: 86.9%)
> Median household income: $34,632 (West Virginia: $46,711)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.2% (West Virginia: 6.5%)
> Population: 1,736
Wisconsin: Cornell
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 9.0% (Wisconsin: 30.1%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 87.6% (Wisconsin: 92.2%)
> Median household income: $47,264 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.4% (Wisconsin: 3.6%)
> Population: 1,781
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Wyoming: Mills
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 5.9% (Wyoming: 27.4%)
> Adults with at least a high school diploma or equivalent: 89.4% (Wyoming: 93.2%)
> Median household income: $46,240 (Wyoming: $64,049)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 8.4% (Wyoming: 4.5%)
> Population: 3,919
To determine the least educated town in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
We used census “place” geographies — a category that includes 29,573 incorporated legal entities and census-designated statistical entities. Of those, 29,319 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states, while the rest were in the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
We defined towns based on population thresholds — having at least 1,000 people and less than 25,000 people — and 13,332 of the places fell within these thresholds.
Towns were then excluded if bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rates were not available in the 2019 ACS, if the town’s 25 and older population was less than 1,000, or if the sampling error associated with a town’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a town’s bachelor’s or higher attainment rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all towns’ bachelor’s or higher attainment rate. We similarly excluded towns that had a sampling error too high for their 25 and over population estimates, using the same definition.
The remaining 10,738 places were ranked within their state based on the share of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree. To break ties, we used the percentage of adults 25 and over who have completed at least high school or its equivalent.
Additional information on the share of adults 25 years and over who have completed at least high school or its equivalent, median household income, unemployment rates for the 16 and older population in the civilian labor force, and population figures are also five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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