The U.S. Census Bureau has released new American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year estimates showing a notable rise in educational attainment among adults age 25 and over in metropolitan statistical areas. The share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree increased from 34.2% during the 2015-2019 period to 37.8% during the 2020-2024 period.
“Over the last five years, we’ve noticed a significant increase in the percentage of adults completing higher education,” said Erik Hernandez, a Census Bureau statistician. “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.”
The Durham-Chapel Hill, North Carolina metro area saw one of the largest increases, with its rate rising from 45.3% to 53.4%. In contrast, Springfield, Massachusetts was the only metro area where educational attainment declined, dropping from 32.8% to 29.3%.
Micropolitan statistical areas also saw changes; about half reported gains in educational attainment for those age 25 and over. Taos, New Mexico experienced one of the most significant increases, moving from 28.7% to 38.5%.
Examining specific fields of study among college graduates age 25 and older revealed varying trends across different locations:
– In education degrees, Gadsden, Alabama had one of the largest increases (from 24.5% to 29.1%), while Elizabethtown, Kentucky had one of the largest decreases (from 19.0% to 13.0%).
– For science and engineering degrees, Enid, Oklahoma showed an increase from 24.8% to 33%, whereas Carson City, Nevada decreased from 37.6% to 31%.
– In arts and humanities fields, Carson City had an increase (from 19.5% to 27.5%), while Enid experienced a decrease (from 21.7% to 15.6%).
The ACS is unique in providing local-level data on more than forty topics related to people and housing across four nonoverlapping five-year periods since its inception: beginning with data for periods starting in 2005-2009 up through 2020-2024.
Other highlights from this release include changes in income and poverty rates:
– The median household income for the United States during 2020-2024 was $80,734.
– Adjusted for inflation (to 2024 dollars), national median household income rose by 4.4% between 2015-2019 and 2020-2024.
– Most counties did not see statistically significant changes in median household income; increases were observed in 707 counties while declines occurred in 179.
– About three-fourths of counties had median incomes below the national figure.
Poverty rates also shifted:
– The U.S poverty rate fell from 13.4% during 2015–2019 to 12.5% during 2020–2024.
– Significant changes occurred in poverty rates for various age groups across hundreds of counties.
– Among children under eighteen: poverty rates dropped in 759 counties but rose in 144.
– For those sixty-five and older: poverty increased in most affected counties.
Broadband internet access improved broadly:
– All metropolitan areas tracked showed growth in broadband subscription rates between survey periods.
– Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas saw its broadband subscription rate climb from 57.5% to 84.4%.
– Some micropolitan areas such as Greenville, Mississippi recorded decreases.
Language use at home also changed:
– Las Cruces, New Mexico reported an increase in English-only speakers at home (48.7% up to 54.7%), while Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida saw a decline (77.7% down to 72.2%). In Lakeland-Winter Haven during this period Spanish was spoken at home by nearly a quarter of residents.
Among large cities like New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; Phoenix; Houston—household numbers grew significantly since data collection began for these surveys nearly two decades ago.
Never-married rates have risen as well: Houston’s share of never-married women aged fifteen or older increased notably over time—from approximately one-third up past forty percent—and similar rises were seen among men.
The Census Bureau will release additional ACS Public Use Microdata Sample files on March 5th of this year; full statistics are available on their website along with resources explaining how these figures are calculated and compared across time periods.
“Approximately ninety percent of metro areas experienced an increase”
For more details about ACS methodology or guidance on interpreting margins-of-error visit their Code Lists page or comparison guidance resources.
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