Education
Education Levels of Adults, 2017-21


Education Levels of Adults, 2017-21

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What does this measure?

The number of residents with a particular level of education, expressed as a percentage of all residents 25 and older.

Why is this important?

An educated population makes a more attractive workforce and is better prepared to instruct the next generation of residents. High educational attainment positions a region well for long-term growth.

How is our county doing?

In 2017-21, 41% of adults in Essex County had at least a bachelor's degree, up from 31% in 2000. That was higher than the national rate of 34% and slightly below Massachusetts' rate of 45%. Only 10% of Essex County adults lacked a high school diploma, while 24% were high school graduates and 24% had attended some college. These proportions were very similar to the state. Essex had a higher percentage of people with a bachelor's degree or higher compared to the nation (34%).

Within the County, the cities of Lawrence and Lynn had much lower levels of education, with 14% and 21%, respectively, of adults having earned at least a bachelor's. Nearly a third in Lawrence lacked a high school diploma, compared to 23% in Lynn. Communities with the highest shares of residents with at least a bachelor's degree included Manchester (78%) and Marblehead (77%).

How do we compare to similar counties?

Essex County's 2017-21 rate of adults with bachelor's or higher degrees was lower than the comparison counties: 58% in Middlesex, MA, 51% in Westchester, NY, and 46% in Lake, IL.

Notes about the data

Adults are people 25 and older. The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability the true value (if the whole population were surveyed) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval).

The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator are released annually in December.

Education Levels of Adults, 2017-21
Bachelor's degree or higherHigh school graduate, GED, or alternativeLess than high school diplomaSome college or associate's degree
Essex County, MA41%24%10%24%
Amesbury40%26%5%**29%
Beverly50%22%4%**24%
Gloucester40%27%6%28%
Haverhill30%30%10%30%
Lawrence14%32%30%24%
Lynn21%31%23%25%
Methuen30%28%11%30%
Newburyport64%13%3%****20%
Peabody35%31%9%25%
Salem49%22%7%**22%
Andover75%8%3%**14%
Boxford69%11%****3%******18%**
Danvers45%24%5%**26%
Essex63%12%****4%******21%**
Georgetown55%17%2%******26%
Groveland49%23%**4%******24%**
Hamilton69%13%**1%******17%**
Ipswich56%17%2%****25%
Lynnfield61%18%3%******18%**
Manchester78%7%******1%******15%**
Marblehead77%8%**1%******14%
Merrimac34%28%4%******34%**
Middleton37%32%10%**20%**
Nahant65%17%**2%******16%**
Newbury56%18%**2%******24%**
North Andover60%16%3%**21%
Rockport58%12%**4%****25%
Rowley47%22%**3%******29%**
Salisbury43%26%7%**24%
Saugus32%34%8%**26%
Swampscott62%15%3%****21%**
Topsfield72%11%**2%******15%**
Wenham68%10%**1%******20%**
West Newbury64%12%**3%******22%**
Middlesex County, MA58%18%6%18%
Lake County, IL46%20%9%24%
Westchester County, NY51%18%11%20%
Massachusetts45%23%9%23%
United States34%26%11%29%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Education Levels of Adults, 2017-21
Bachelor's degree or higherHigh school graduate, GED, or alternativeLess than high school diplomaSome college or associate's degree
Essex County, MA230,608136,49357,431135,347
Amesbury4,9993,328625**3,630
Beverly14,6416,3431,191**6,828
Gloucester9,0776,1641,2716,426
Haverhill13,81614,1154,57613,800
Lawrence7,36717,33516,49113,210
Lynn13,93220,71615,04216,730
Methuen10,90710,3044,07911,034
Newburyport8,5511,674336****2,711
Peabody14,02412,4383,58610,160
Salem15,5827,0422,389**7,107
Andover18,5491,988657**3,484
Boxford3,980628****157******1,017**
Danvers9,2354,8431,120**5,323
Essex1,582312****99******525**
Georgetown3,2711,032126******1,542
Groveland2,3421,104**173******1,151**
Hamilton3,577674**49******903**
Ipswich5,5561,744227****2,462
Lynnfield5,2551,536219******1,544**
Manchester2,972251******22******589**
Marblehead11,2291,177**116******2,016
Merrimac1,6231,360189******1,604**
Middleton2,8542,477799**1,506**
Nahant1,807481**59******434**
Newbury2,873923**112******1,237**
North Andover12,0343,109566**4,293
Rockport3,300694**240****1,436
Rowley2,1571,002**124******1,334**
Salisbury2,9521,784510**1,660
Saugus6,7147,2051,799**5,464
Swampscott6,7851,586276****2,256**
Topsfield3,299493**98******704**
Wenham1,687249**26******502**
West Newbury2,079382**82******725**
Middlesex County, MA659,984206,43573,449202,660
Lake County, IL217,45194,56843,130114,310
Westchester County, NY351,129127,80177,286137,037
Massachusetts2,216,3491,137,085433,2151,116,219
United States75,808,83459,636,38625,050,35664,656,741

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Education Levels of Adults, 2000
Bachelor's degree or higherHigh school graduate, GED, or alternativeLess than high school diplomaSome college or associate's degree
Essex County, MA31%28%15%25%
Beverly37%28%9%26%
Gloucester27%31%14%27%
Haverhill23%31%16%29%
Lawrence10%30%42%19%
Lynn16%34%26%24%
Methuen23%33%18%26%
Newburyport42%21%10%27%
Peabody23%35%15%27%
Salem31%28%15%26%
Andover63%14%4%19%
Boxford63%13%1%23%
Danvers33%29%10%28%
Essex36%26%9%29%
Georgetown38%25%10%27%
Groveland34%24%8%34%
Hamilton53%17%6%25%
Ipswich41%23%8%28%
Lynnfield49%21%5%24%
Manchester56%18%4%22%
Marblehead61%14%4%21%
Merrimac31%30%10%29%
Middleton29%27%20%24%
Nahant47%22%5%26%
Newbury44%25%4%27%
North Andover50%20%7%23%
Rockport44%22%5%29%
Rowley36%26%10%28%
Salisbury17%40%16%27%
Saugus19%39%12%29%
Swampscott50%19%5%26%
Topsfield52%19%3%26%
Wenham51%16%6%27%
West Newbury57%17%3%22%
Middlesex County, MA44%23%12%21%
Lake County, IL39%21%13%27%
Westchester County, NY41%22%16%21%
Massachusetts33%27%15%24%
United States24%29%20%27%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




Education Levels of Adults, 2000
Bachelor's degree or higherHigh school graduate, GED, or alternativeLess than high school diplomaSome college or associate's degree
Essex County, MA152,225136,74474,967123,167
Beverly10,0967,6812,5537,303
Gloucester5,9386,7983,0985,764
Haverhill9,20412,2336,44211,475
Lawrence4,07812,12117,1147,627
Lynn9,33719,35314,75713,646
Methuen6,8869,9625,4517,663
Newburyport5,4282,7031,2433,470
Peabody7,91811,9065,1089,342
Salem8,7728,0184,1587,221
Andover13,0622,9259373,973
Boxford3,151656391,170
Danvers5,8705,2071,7304,970
Essex827592207654
Georgetown1,8701,2294711,299
Groveland1,3519593041,342
Hamilton2,9019163301,377
Ipswich3,8542,1447242,589
Lynnfield3,9931,7274451,928
Manchester2,074680149801
Marblehead9,0552,0635233,083
Merrimac1,2471,2203951,186
Middleton1,5761,4771,0501,273
Nahant1,334605152719
Newbury2,0331,1452021,253
North Andover8,8923,5011,2274,052
Rockport2,5391,2342781,665
Rowley1,305943374997
Salisbury9412,1708791,503
Saugus3,6557,4702,3565,540
Swampscott5,1291,9085302,647
Topsfield2,1497761311,079
Wenham1,217395136655
West Newbury1,59547194627
Middlesex County, MA438,733235,369116,066216,329
Lake County, IL153,72685,05653,459106,024
Westchester County, NY256,924138,814103,456129,747
Massachusetts1,418,2951,165,489651,0931,038,398
United States44,462,60552,168,98135,715,62549,864,428

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%.




INDICATORS TREND | ESSEX COUNTY
People 65 or Older Living Alone Decreasing
Early Prenatal Care by Mother's Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prevalence of Overweight Adults Not Applicable
Preterm Births Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate Maintaining
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels Decreasing
Children Living in Poverty Increasing
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Disengaged Youth Maintaining
Live Births to Teen Mothers Decreasing
Youth Arrests Decreasing
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Establishments Maintaining
Arts, Entertainment and Recreation Employment Maintaining
Tourism Spending Increasing
Voter Participation Rate Increasing
Charitable Contributions Maintaining
Protected Land Not Applicable
Days with Good Air Quality Increasing
Beach Contamination Increasing
Daily Water Use per Resident Decreasing
Crimes Against People Maintaining
Crimes Against Property Decreasing
Drug-Related Arrests Maintaining
Reports of Domestic Violence Increasing
Incarceration Rates Decreasing
Recidivism Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work Not Applicable
Traffic Injuries and Fatalities Maintaining
Households With Internet Access Not Applicable
Change in Total Population Increasing
Change in Population by Age/Sex Not Applicable
People with Disabilities Maintaining
Households by Type Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Sex Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Foreign-Born Population Increasing
Language Diversity Increasing
Change in Total Jobs Increasing
Change in Jobs by Sector Not Applicable
Change in Average Salary Increasing
Change in Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Average Salary by Sector Not Applicable
Median Earnings by Occupation by Gender Not Applicable
People Entering/Leaving County for Work Not Applicable
Employer Size Not Applicable
Self-Employment Revenue Increasing
Business Ownership by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Prekindergarten Participation Not Applicable
Female Enrollment in School Not Applicable
Chronically Absent Students Increasing
Per-Student Spending Increasing
Bullying Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Education Levels of Adults Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Income in Relation to Poverty Level Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income Increasing
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Household Type Not Applicable
Living Wage Rate by Household Type Not Applicable
Access to Financial Services, by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Households Receiving Temporary Assistance Increasing
Households Receiving Federal Food Assistance Increasing
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Earned Income Tax Credit Participation Decreasing
Economically Disadvantaged Students Increasing
Median Home Value Increasing
Cost of Homeownership Increasing
Cost of Renting Increasing
Homeownership Rates Maintaining
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeless Persons Maintaining
People Without Health Insurance Decreasing
Medical Care Expenses Increasing
Prevalence of Children with Asthma Maintaining
Prevalence of Overweight Children Maintaining
Diabetes Incidence Decreasing
Chronic Disease Among Older Adults Increasing
Cancer Incidence Decreasing
Cancer Mortality Rate Decreasing
Heart Disease Mortality Rate Decreasing
Mortality Rate Decreasing
People who Smoke Not Applicable
Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Youth Use of Illegal Drugs Not Applicable
Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions Not Applicable
Drug Overdose Mortality Rate Increasing
Prevalence of Mental Illness Maintaining
Suicide Rate Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Single-Parent Families by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Change in Population by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 3 Reading Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 8 Math by Student Group Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 English Language Arts Not Applicable
Student Performance on Grade 10 Math Not Applicable
High School Cohort Graduation Rate by Student Group Not Applicable
Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
People Living in Poverty by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Median Household Income by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Participation in Food Assistance by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable
Homeownership Rates by Race/Ethnicity Not Applicable