The U.S. Census Bureau has released new American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates showing notable increases in educational attainment across metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 periods.
According to the data, the share of adults aged 25 and over with at least a bachelor’s degree in metropolitan areas rose from 34.2% to 37.8%. Erik Hernandez, a Census Bureau statistician, said, “Over the last five years, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the percentage of adults completing higher education. Approximately 89% of metro areas experienced an increase in the percentage of population 25 years and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher when compared to the 2015-2019 period.”
Some regions saw especially large changes. The Durham-Chapel Hill, NC metro area had one of the largest increases among adults with at least a bachelor’s degree, rising from 45.3% to 53.4%. In contrast, Springfield, MA was the only metro area where this measure declined—from 32.8% to 29.3%.
Micropolitan statistical areas also showed gains: about half (50.8%) saw increased educational attainment for those aged 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree during this period. Taos, NM recorded one of the most significant jumps—from 28.7% to 38.5%.
Field-specific data show that Gadsden, AL metro area had one of the largest increases among college graduates whose field is education (from 24.5% to 29.1%), while Elizabethtown, KY experienced one of the largest decreases (from 19% to 13%). For science and engineering graduates aged over 25, Enid, OK saw an increase from 24.8% to 33%, whereas Carson City, NV dropped from 37.6% to 31%. In arts and humanities fields among college graduates over age 25, Carson City had one of the highest increases (19.5% to 27.5%), while Enid posted one of the sharpest declines (21.7% to15 .6%).
The ACS provides local estimates on more than forty topics related to people and housing nationwide; it is unique as many localities rely on it for these figures.
Other findings from this ACS release include trends in income and poverty rates:
– The median household income nationally for the period was $80,734.
– Adjusted for inflation (to reflect dollars as valued in 2024), U.S median household income increased by 4 .4 % compared with the previous five-year span.
– Most counties did not see statistically significant changes in median household income; however ,707 counties reported increases ,while179 counties reported decreases .
– About three quarters (73 .6 %)of all counties had median incomes below that national figure ; just under13 % exceeded it .
Poverty rates fell slightly overall:
– The national poverty rate decreased from13 .4 %to12 .5 %between these two periods .
– Among counties ,858 saw significant change :663 posted declines ,195 recorded rises .
– For children under18 ,poverty rates dropped significantly in759 counties but rose in144 .
– Among those65 or older ,poverty rates increased in819 counties but decreased in77 .
In terms of technology access:
– All metropolitan areas included observed growth in broadband internet subscriptions; Brownsville-Harlingen ,TX led these gains(57 .5 %to84 .4 %) .
– Only Greenville ,MS micro area(62 .4 %to50 .2 %)and Ruston ,LA micro area registered decreases .
– Monroe ,LA ;Eagle Pass ,TX ;and Laredo ,TX metros had some of biggest rises regarding households owning computers.
Language use at home shifted as well:
– Las Cruces,NM saw English-only speakers rise sharply(from48 .7 %to54 .7 %)while Lakeland-Winter Haven FL noted a drop(from77 .7 %to72 .2 %)with Spanish spoken by23 .1 %there.
Population growth continued across major cities such as New York City(+286,933 households since2005 -09 ),Los Angeles (+140748 households),Chicago (+97158 households),and Phoenix(+98500 households). The proportion of never-married men and women also grew—for example,in Houston,the share rose for women(from32 .7 %to41 %)and men(from40 .1 %to45 .2%).
The Census Bureau will release additional ACS Public Use Microdata Sample files on March 5 2026; full statistics are available via their website.
Erik Hernandez added that identifying such trends is critical for planning investments and services at local levels: “Approximately89 percentofmetroareasexperiencedanincreaseinthepercentageofpopulation25yearsandoverwithabachelor’sdegreeorhigherwhencomparedtothe20152019period.”
Statistics are subject to sampling errors; detailed margins can be found online alongside guidance on comparing data across time periods.
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