The Durham-Chapel Hill area was rated as one of the “most educated cities in America” in a new study from 24/7 Wall St. (Although we’re not certain that Durham-Chapel Hill is a city?) We are certain, however, that due to excellent higher education availability and job opportunities, as well as an excellent quality of life, that Durham and Chapel Hill are attractive places for smart folks to come live and work.
To identify the most-educated cities in America, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree in 2013. Educational attainment rates, median earnings by level of education, household median income, population estimates, and poverty data all came from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2013 American Community Survey. Unemployment rates came from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and are annual averages for 2013.
Here is what 24/7 Wall St. had to say about “Durham-Chapel Hill”:
Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
> Bachelor’s degree or higher: 45.5% (tied-9th highest)
> Median household income: $53,492 (100th highest)
> Median earnings – bachelor’s degree: $43,007 (166th lowest)
> Poverty rate: 16.9% (164th highest)
More than 45% of adults living in the Durham-Chapel Hill metro area had attained at least a bachelor’s degree as of last year, tied for the 9th highest figure among all U.S. cities. By contrast, just under 30% of adults nationwide had done so. While most Americans with bachelor’s degrees earn considerably more than their less-educated peers, higher education does not guarantee higher wages in the Durham metro area. A typical Durham resident with a bachelor’s degree earned $43,007, lower than the national median of $50,050. Overall, however, the median household income in Durham was $53,492, in line with the national median. Like other well-educated cities, the area is home to several large academic institutions, including Duke University and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Read more: The Most Educated Cities – 24/7 Wall St. http://247wallst.com/special-report/2014/11/24/the-most-educated-cities/#ixzz3KruSBoq9