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California town named the least educated city in US — 6 Golden State metros at the bottom of the list

NY Post Published Jun 29, 2026 Reviewed Jul 3, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
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Visalia ranked No. 150, the lowest overall rank among the 150 most populated US cities.
150 · Visalia
Wallethub report, report
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Bakersfield ranked No. 147 among the 150 most populated US cities.
147 · Bakersfield
Wallethub report, report
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Modesto ranked No. 146 among the 150 most populated US cities.
146 · Modesto
Wallethub report, report
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Salinas ranked No. 145 among the 150 most populated US cities.
145 · Salinas
Wallethub report, report
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Fresno ranked No. 144 among the 150 most populated US cities.
144 · Fresno
Wallethub report, report
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Stockton ranked No. 143 among the 150 most populated US cities.
143 · Stockton
Wallethub report, report
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The analysis compared 150 of the most populated cities in the US.
150 · cities
Wallethub report, report
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Six of the 10 least educated cities are located in California.
6 · cities
Wallethub report, report
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San Jose metro area was ranked as the third-most educated in the country.
3 · San Jose metro area
Wallethub report, report
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Over 50% of residents aged 25 and older in San Jose hold a bachelor’s degree.
more than 50 % · residents aged 25 and older in San Jose
Wallethub report, report
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San Jose maintains a third-place ranking for the quality of its universities among metropolitan areas.
3 · universities in San Jose metro area
Wallethub report, report
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Over 96% of adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor have at least a high school diploma.
more than 96 % · adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor
Wallethub report, report
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Nearly 59% of adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor have a bachelor’s degree.
about 59 % · adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor
Wallethub report, report
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Nearly 32% of adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor have an advanced degree.
about 32 % · adults above 25 years of age in Ann Arbor
Wallethub report, report
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California is known for its picturesque scenery, sandy beaches and ideal temperatures, but a new study also suggests the Golden State takes the crown for having the least educated city in the whole country.

Visalia in California, famously known as the primary “Gateway to the Sequoias,” is the least educated city in the US, according to a report by Wallethub.

Five other cities — Bakersfield, Modesto, Salinas, Fresno and Stockton — also sit on the list. Of the 10 least educated cities, six are located in the Golden State.

The report ranked Visalia at No. 150, the lowest overall rank, followed by Bakersfield at No. 147, Modesto at No. 146, Salinas at No. 145, Fresno at No. 144 and Stockton at No. 143.

The analysis compared 150 of the most populated cities in the US across various metrics including the number of adults age 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree, quality of the public-school system, and the size of the gender education gap.

Bakersfield and Visalia are among the bottom five cities, with the lowest percentage of residents with high school diplomas and adults with college experience. The two cities have the least percentage of people who hold a bachelor’s degree.

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In contrast, the San Jose metro area was ranked as the third-most educated in the country. San Jose boasts a population where over 50% of residents aged 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree. Additionally, the region maintains a third-place ranking for the quality of its universities among metropolitan areas.

Michigan’s Ann Arbor metro area ranked as the most educated in the country. Over 96% of adults above 25 years of age have at least a high school diploma, nearly 59% have a bachelor’s degree and nearly 32% having an advanced degree, all of which are among the highest rates in the country.

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