Education
Education Levels of Adults

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The number of residents with a particular level of education in a region, 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 represents a region's investment in human capital and preparation for long-term growth.

How is our region performing?

In 2017-21, 64% of residents aged 25 and older in the region had attended at least some college or earned a bachelor's degree, slightly above the state and national rates (both at 62%). Just 9% of adults in the region lacked a high school diploma, lower than both the statewide (13%) and national (11%) rates, and 35% had their bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 38% statewide and 34% nationally. Regional educational achievement rose from 2000 through 2017-21, with the share of individuals with no high school diploma falling 7 percentage points and the share of individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher increasing 9 points.

Among the individual counties, Ontario and Monroe had the highest rate of adults having attended some college or achieved a bachelor's degree, both at 68%, respectively. Wyoming and Orleans had the lowest rates, at 51% and 46%, respectively. In the City of Rochester, 56% of residents had attended at least some college, in line with many counties in the region but lagging behind the cities of Geneva (63%) and Canandaigua (68%), though higher than Batavia (55%). Rochester also had the highest share of individuals without a high school diploma, at 18%. However, the percentage of City residents without a high school diploma fell 9 points from 2000.

Notes about the data

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

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
NYS38%25%13%24%
NYS (excluding NYC)37%27%9%27%
Region35%27%9%29%
Monroe40%23%9%28%
Surrounding Counties26%33%10%31%
Genesee22%38%7%32%
Livingston29%31%8%32%
Ontario37%26%7%30%
Orleans17%41%13%29%
Seneca21%33%15%30%
Wayne24%33%10%33%
Wyoming18%38%12%33%
Yates24%34%14%27%
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester29%26%18%28%
Brighton67%10%4%*18%
Chili37%23%6%34%
Clarkson36%31%*4%***28%
East Rochester34%25%*11%**31%
Gates28%32%8%32%
Greece31%29%9%31%
Hamlin29%29%7%*35%
Henrietta40%21%7%31%
Irondequoit38%24%7%32%
Mendon65%11%*1%***23%
Ogden36%26%6%*32%
Parma35%35%3%**27%
Penfield56%16%3%*25%
Perinton60%13%3%*24%
Pittsford75%8%2%*16%
Riga43%29%5%***23%
Rush45%22%*3%***30%*
Sweden36%27%9%*28%
Webster44%21%5%*30%
Wheatland39%26%3%***32%*
Brockport (V)32%*33%*10%**25%*
Churchville (V)44%26%*2%***28%*
Fairport (V)62%7%**4%***27%*
Hilton (V)31%*43%3%***23%*
Honeoye Falls (V)55%15%**3%***27%*
Pittsford (V)78%8%**0%***14%*
Scottsville (V)32%*25%*4%***39%*
Spencerport (V)35%32%*7%***27%*
Webster (V)37%23%*11%**29%*
Regional Cities
Batavia21%35%10%*34%
Canandaigua39%24%9%*28%
Geneva32%26%11%*31%

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
NYS5,366,7123,553,5981,769,6573,391,113
NYS (excluding NYC)2,915,6342,091,069728,0882,154,594
Region296,796228,65678,282250,525
Monroe209,945121,14146,804147,572
Surrounding Counties86,851107,51531,478102,953
Genesee9,19716,0633,09613,474
Livingston12,15012,9173,42113,549
Ontario29,82820,2885,35824,085
Orleans5,12012,0623,8668,662
Seneca5,2608,1663,7387,343
Wayne15,88521,1396,28121,695
Wyoming5,36111,1873,4329,624
Yates4,0505,6932,2864,521
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester40,12436,26824,43138,523
Brighton17,3742,6921,053*4,679
Chili7,7914,7211,2307,185
Clarkson1,8431,571*208***1,439
East Rochester1,5841,154*508**1,458
Gates6,3417,0711,7847,149
Greece21,31620,2776,14121,611
Hamlin1,7821,816444*2,209
Henrietta11,6326,1662,0998,876
Irondequoit14,6499,2762,57812,308
Mendon4,090676*92***1,467
Ogden4,9833,642822*4,538
Parma3,8313,877291**3,014
Penfield15,5824,321920*6,875
Perinton20,9494,5721,147*8,281
Pittsford14,8141,509407*3,109
Riga1,6631,131193***890
Rush1,137569*80***766*
Sweden2,4861,856658*1,946
Webster14,6087,0861,617*10,135
Wheatland1,366890101***1,114*
Brockport (V)984*1,005*312**774*
Churchville (V)667404*37***421*
Fairport (V)2,636314**168***1,166*
Hilton (V)1,151*1,629126***844*
Honeoye Falls (V)1,040290**62***513*
Pittsford (V)91492**4***158*
Scottsville (V)512*399*60***632*
Spencerport (V)944863*187***721*
Webster (V)1,7111,076*493**1,319*
Regional Cities
Batavia2,3713,9281,102*3,821
Canandaigua2,9201,780635*2,100
Geneva2,2871,835761*2,222

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
NYS27%28%21%24%
NYS (excluding NYC)27%30%16%26%
Region26%30%16%28%
Monroe31%26%15%28%
Surrounding Counties18%36%18%28%
Genesee16%38%16%30%
Livingston19%34%18%29%
Ontario25%32%13%31%
Orleans13%40%24%24%
Seneca17%36%21%26%
Wayne17%36%18%29%
Wyoming11%39%24%25%
Yates18%36%20%26%
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester20%29%27%24%
Brighton57%14%9%20%
Chili29%29%10%31%
Clarkson27%30%14%29%
East Rochester23%29%16%32%
Gates17%34%19%30%
Greece23%33%12%31%
Hamlin15%38%12%35%
Henrietta30%26%10%34%
Irondequoit28%28%16%29%
Mendon53%15%5%26%
Ogden33%26%8%32%
Parma22%35%11%33%
Penfield46%19%9%26%
Perinton52%16%6%27%
Pittsford65%10%4%21%
Riga33%31%8%28%
Rush44%21%8%27%
Sweden34%26%12%28%
Webster37%25%8%30%
Wheatland33%26%9%32%
Brockport (V)36%22%13%29%
Churchville (V)33%30%8%29%
Fairport (V)47%19%8%27%
Hilton (V)20%33%10%36%
Honeoye Falls (V)43%20%7%30%
Pittsford (V)64%11%4%22%
Scottsville (V)40%22%7%31%
Spencerport (V)36%25%11%27%
Webster (V)28%28%13%32%
Regional Cities
Batavia19%34%20%28%
Canandaigua25%29%15%31%
Geneva22%31%22%25%

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
NYS3,433,2123,480,7682,626,3243,002,232
NYS (excluding NYC)1,986,3792,191,4331,163,6341,924,144
Region204,103233,880127,006218,308
Monroe148,953124,92772,410131,667
Surrounding Counties55,150108,95354,59686,641
Genesee6,53315,3016,24412,047
Livingston7,71513,5577,07811,731
Ontario16,43021,0178,40620,686
Orleans3,76611,5196,8466,912
Seneca3,9488,0534,7275,857
Wayne10,51322,31610,95417,948
Wyoming3,39011,4987,2067,428
Yates2,8555,6923,1354,032
Monroe County Local Areas
Rochester26,72338,00835,79632,180
Brighton14,8213,5592,2025,246
Chili5,2305,3311,8825,684
Clarkson1,0761,1675631,130
East Rochester1,0171,2887321,437
Gates3,5007,0283,9786,185
Greece15,00921,0277,84320,068
Hamlin8732,1626661,961
Henrietta6,5585,5842,1187,483
Irondequoit10,69210,6325,96210,984
Mendon2,9908223041,480
Ogden3,9093,0639713,796
Parma2,0953,3821,0653,159
Penfield11,0964,5852,0916,252
Perinton16,3544,8981,7948,450
Pittsford11,7031,7876803,733
Riga1,2011,0962771,017
Rush1,058509190644
Sweden2,2801,7198321,904
Webster9,6546,3842,1637,784
Wheatland1,1148963011,090
Brockport (V)1,212723432954
Churchville (V)40837398354
Fairport (V)1,8247283251,042
Hilton (V)7421,2003811,313
Honeoye Falls (V)790363123542
Pittsford (V)67111140233
Scottsville (V)540305100417
Spencerport (V)887617274672
Webster (V)9739714521,126
Regional Cities
Batavia2,0413,7032,2143,057
Canandaigua1,9242,2651,1552,416
Geneva1,7062,4651,6851,970

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%.







Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS


INDICATORS - Grouped by Topic REGIONAL VALUE YEAR NYS COMPARISON TREND | REGION
Prenatal Care 78% 2019 3 1
Increasing
Prenatal Care, by Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights 8.4% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Babies Born with Low Birth Weights, Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Infant Mortality Rate 6.9 2017-19 2 0
Maintaining
Infant Mortality Rate, Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0.8% 2019 2 -1
Decreasing
Children in Poverty 18% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
Children in Poverty, Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Single-Parent Families 39% 2017-21 2 1
Increasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Rate of Child Abuse and Neglect 20 2020 2 1
Increasing
Rate of Foster Care Admissions 1.8 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Rate of Teen Pregnancy 1.3% 2019 3 -1
Decreasing
Rate of Teen Births 12 2019 2 -1
Decreasing
Tourism Spending $1,399 2021 1 0
Maintaining
Recreation Spending $83 2021 1 -1
Decreasing
Voter Registration Rate 84% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate 64% 2020 3 1
Increasing
Registered Library Borrowers 55% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Library Visits 2.5 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Charitable Contributions as a Percentage of Income 0.8% 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Households Without Vehicles 10% 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Total Population 1.4% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Age 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Workers’ Commute Time, by Means of Transportation to Work 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Population by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Pedestrians 2.6 2022 3 0
Maintaining
Population by Age and Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Crashes Involving Cyclists 1.4 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 6% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Crashes Resulting in Injuries and Fatalities 60 2022 3 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income $64,995 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) 24 2022 2 -1
Decreasing
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Miles of Dedicated Bike Infrastructure 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty 13% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
RTS Ridership 8 2022 0 -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
RTS On-time Performance 0 10 Not Applicable*
Greenhouse Gas Emissions 23.7 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Public Assistance Recipients 1.2% 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Energy Burden of Households 0 10 Not Applicable*
Approval Rate for Public Assistance Applications 22% 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Females Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Solar Energy Capacity 122.8 2022 3 1
Increasing
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Sex 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Households Receiving SNAP 13% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Female Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gas Usage for Household Heating 74% 2017-21 1 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Workforce 4.7% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Tax Filers Receiving Earned Income Tax Credit 14% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Clean Energy Communities 2023 0 10 Not Applicable*
EITC Dollars $153 2020 2 -1
Decreasing
Electric Vehicles (EV) Charging Ports 165 2023 0 -1
Decreasing
Change in Total Jobs 2.3% 2021 2 1
Increasing
Asthma Hospitalizations 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Number of Business Establishments by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts 35% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Jobs by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Food Deserts in Low-Income Areas 20% 2019 1 10 Not Applicable*
Sector Shares of Regional Total Employment 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Unemployment Rate 4.9% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Unemployment Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 12% 2021 3 1
Increasing
Change in Average Salary Since 2000 by Sector 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Employment-to-Population Ratio 59% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Prekindergarten Participation 41% 2021 2 1
Increasing
School Spending Per Student $23,561 2020 1 1
Increasing
Instructional Spending Per Student $16,983 2020 1 1
Increasing
Students Receiving Special Education Services 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Grade 3 English 37% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 English by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 English by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math 40% 2022 2 1
Increasing
Grade 3 Math by Student Subgroup 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 3 Math by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English 39% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Grade 8 English by Student Subgroup 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 English by Race/Ethnicity 2019 0 10 Not Applicable*
Grade 8 Math 49% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Regents Algebra 1 73% 2019 3 1
Increasing
Regents English 83% 2019 2 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate 88% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Cohort Graduation Rate, Beyond Four Years 90% 2022 3 1
Increasing
Four-Year Cohort Graduation Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2022 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Education Levels of Adults by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Without Health Insurance 5% 2020 3 -1
Decreasing
Supply of Doctors 35.3 2019 1 1
Increasing
Mortality Rate 693 2019 1 -1
Decreasing
Chlamydia Rate 53 2020 2 1
Increasing
Chlamydia Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rate 37 2020 1 1
Increasing
Maternal Health, by Race/Ethnicity 2018-20 0 10 Not Applicable*
Gonorrhea Rates, Race/Ethnicity, Monroe County 0 10 Not Applicable*
Early Syphilis Rates 2.8 2020 3 1
Increasing
Early Syphilis Rates within Monroe County, by Race/Ethnicity 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with HIV 105 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with HIV by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
People Living with AIDS 124 2021 0 1
Increasing
People Living with AIDS by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Percent of Days with Good Air Quality 0 10 Not Applicable*
Alcohol-related Crashes 2.7 2021 2 -1
Decreasing
Admissions to Substance Abuse Treatment by Primary Substance 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Median Home Value $151,405 2017-21 1 1
Increasing
Median Rental Prices $936 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Homeowners 2.3 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
Housing Affordability for Homeowners by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden 28% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters 32% 2017-21 3 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households 48% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Housing Affordability for Renters by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Homeownership Rate 68% 2017-21 3 -1
Decreasing
Homeownership Rate by Race/Ethnicity 2017-21 0 10 Not Applicable*
Vacant Housing Units 9% 2017-21 3 1
Increasing
Homeless Persons 0 10 Not Applicable*
Serious Crimes 165 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Violent Crimes 25 2021 3 1
Increasing
Victims of Domestic Violence 59 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates 10.0 2021 0 -1
Decreasing
Incarceration Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2018 0 10 Not Applicable*
Arrest Rates 125.2 2021 3 -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 2021 0 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Capita Spending for Local Government $3,731 2019 0 1
Increasing
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0.70 2017-21 3 0
Maintaining
*No or multiple regional values for this indicator


Worse than NYS by 10% or more
Up to 10% worse than NYS
Equal to or better than NYS





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