<p>I know, these lists are always relative depending what data is looked at, etc.</p>
<p>While my city doesn’t crack the top 100, glad to see Ann Arbor - one of my favorite “local” cities to visit is “#1 Most”!!!</p>
<p>10 Most Educated
Ann Arbor
Raleigh, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Provo, Utah
Manchester, New Hampshire
Seattle, Washington
San Jose, California
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Baltimore, Maryland
Boston, Massachusetts</p>
<p>10 Least Educated
Fresno, California
McAllen, Texas
Lakeland, Florida
Bakersfield, California
Visalia, California
Modesto, California
Brownsville, Texas
Rockford, Illinois
Salinas, California
Beaumont, Texas</p>
<p>Fresno, California
McAllen, Texas
Lakeland, Florida
Bakersfield, California
Visalia, California
Modesto, California
Brownsville, Texas
Rockford, Illinois
Salinas, California
Beaumont, Texas</p>
<p>Those are just nice place to live on the streets, warm year around. And the top 10 are big University places. Pretty much common sense. I would not choose any place based on this. But Ann Arbor is nice, it is small and clean and there are actually jobs, one little disadvantage - Dearborn is relatively close. </p>
<p>Well I live in one of the cities rated low education level/low income. But my experiences are so different than the ratings would suggest. Relatively low cost of living allowed us to live on a large home on an acre lot. Daughters attended public schools – not magnets – with successful results (generous scholarships at good private schools.)</p>
<p>We enjoy a wonderful park system, ride the bike paths, participate in library programs, attend theater and symphony performances, and dine in any number of restaurants. While my daughters were growing up, they spent summers at park district sponsored camps/playgrounds and at city sponsored arts programs.</p>
<p>Yes, we have poverty here, and the inherent educational challenges associated with it. But opportunities are available too. And I like living in a place that is trying to do its best by and for its citizens.</p>
<p>Marlene, that sounds like a great place to live! As I said, these lists are always relative to whatever data they choose to highlight or take into account. :)</p>
<p>Huh? What’s wrong with Dearborn, @MiamiDAP? Unless it has changed drastically, it seemed like a nice place to visit* with a variety of ethnic food over a decade ago.</p>
<p>*Not counting the incidence where a while guy muttered a slur against an Arab family.</p>
<p>Yeah, I take umbrage to that comment as well, and I’ve been to Dearborn in the past year. I went to high school in the town just south of it. Unfortunately, most comments I’ve heard denigrating Dearborn have roots in racism. The town is nothing like it was when I was in high school (no more Jacobson’s), but many of the cultural changes are positive. There are many wonderful new food options there now, as PurpleTitan posts.</p>
<p>Count me as another fan of Dearborn - nice people, good food, and a lot of civic pride. I have substitute taught often in that district and have found most of the students to be unusually polite and respectful.</p>
<p>One problem with ranking according to percentages is that smaller college towns, such as Ann Arbor, will go to the top simply because there is no room for lesser educated/low income people to find jobs such as in a larger city with a more diverse employment outlook. Madison, WI gets both the U and state capital people plus is large enough for a lot of others but not for many major industries. Noting the bottom of the list includes a lot of Texas and California places- could this be influenced by poor immigrants from across the border? I also wonder about how they decided which were the top U’s? large, public U’s likely have a greater impact on a town than smaller private U’s that are more exclusive- I know the people of Wisconsin feel like they own their school. How many locals feel any ownership of private U’s?</p>
<p>Interesting study. It is nice to be in an area, whether a whole city or a part of a metropolitan area, that has many highly educated people- and I mean more than just a bachelor’s degree.</p>
<p>It sounds like Marlene and I live in similar areas. The city near us is frequently making lists like this but it actually is quite a nice place to live. Housing is affordable. You can own acreage easily. Great park district, easy to drive around, no traffic jams and decent concerts/plays. We are also only 2 hours from several larger cities.</p>
<p>One factor that never seems to make best places… lists is overall culture of an area. Places are dissed for weather but not religion. It is hard to be in a place where the majority has the same beliefs and forgets minorities do not want their religion dominating public schools, times things are open, et al. Fortunately the most educated cities tend to be the most liberal.</p>
<p>I was surprised that my city (Seattle) only ranked #6. It is a large city, though, probably larger than the ones above it. Surprised Baltimore is on the list, with a very high crime rate. Maybe a lot of highly educated, government employees?</p>