A recent study by WalletHub identifies Visalia, California, as the least-educated city in the United States. The study, which evaluated 150 metropolitan areas, used 11 metrics to assess educational attainment and quality. These metrics included the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher and the quality of the public-school system.
California and Texas both have several cities in the top 20 least-educated areas, highlighting a regional trend. According to WalletHub, cities with higher educational attainment often experience economic growth and increased tax revenues, as educated individuals tend to earn higher salaries and contribute more in taxes.
The study found that the most educated city in the U.S. is Ann Arbor, Michigan, where nearly 96% of adults have at least a high school diploma, and over 58% hold a bachelor’s degree. In contrast, Visalia’s ranking suggests challenges in educational attainment and quality.
As cities strive to attract educated workers, the findings underscore the importance of improving educational opportunities to foster economic development. The study’s results are based on data collected from sources such as the U.S. Census Bureau and GreatSchools.org.
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