Most Educated in Washington

Top 100 cities ranked by most educated

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All Countries · United States · Washington

Most Educated — Washington

1 Mercer Island 78.8%

2 Sammamish 77.0%

3 Bainbridge Island 75.0%

4 Redmond 74.7%

5 Union Hill-Novelty Hill 71.8%

6 Bellevue 71.4%

7 Newcastle 71.1%

8 Woodinville 70.7%

9 Issaquah 69.6%

10 Cottage Lake 67.7%

11 Seattle 67.5%

12 Snoqualmie 67.1%

13 Bothell East 66.9%

14 Lake Forest Park 66.0%

15 Kirkland 64.4%

16 Mill Creek East 64.4%

17 Pullman 62.5%

18 North Bend 59.6%

19 Bothell 58.6%

20 Kenmore 57.2%

21 Duvall 56.9%

22 Normandy Park 56.6%

23 Black Diamond 56.5%

24 Artondale 55.8%

25 Mukilteo 54.8%

26 DuPont 54.7%

27 Felida 54.6%

28 Camas 54.3%

29 Maplewood 53.9%

30 Wollochet 53.8%

31 Mill Creek 53.7%

32 Bothell West 53.0%

33 Tehaleh 52.9%

34 Shoreline 52.8%

35 Edmonds 52.2%

36 Port Townsend 52.2%

37 Vashon 51.9%

38 Gig Harbor 50.6%

39 Olympia 50.0%

40 Silver Firs 49.9%

41 Sudden Valley 49.8%

42 Fircrest 49.5%

43 Fairwood CDP (King County) 48.5%

44 Poulsbo 48.2%

45 Maple Valley 47.5%

46 Martha Lake 47.5%

47 Steilacoom 47.4%

48 Hobart 47.0%

49 Maltby 46.9%

50 Brier 46.8%

51 Bellingham 46.5%

52 Richland 46.0%

53 Anacortes 45.7%

54 Liberty Lake 45.2%

55 Fairwood CDP (Spokane County) 45.0%

56 Hockinson 44.7%

57 University Place 43.5%

58 East Renton Highlands 43.4%

59 North Lynnwood 42.2%

60 Mountlake Terrace 41.9%

61 Tumwater 41.6%

62 Lake Shore 41.5%

63 Lake Tapps 41.4%

64 Ellensburg 41.3%

65 Mount Vista 41.3%

66 Eastmont 40.9%

67 West Richland 39.5%

68 Renton 39.0%

69 Alderwood Manor 38.6%

70 Picnic Point 38.4%

71 Bryn Mawr-Skyway 38.0%

72 Ridgefield 38.0%

73 Cheney 36.8%

74 Salmon Creek 36.0%

75 Covington 35.9%

76 Barberton 35.8%

77 Silverdale 35.7%

78 College Place 35.7%

79 Clarkston Heights-Vineland 34.6%

80 Sequim 34.5%

81 Lake Stickney 34.4%

82 Camano 34.2%

83 White Center 34.2%

84 Lake Stevens 33.6%

85 Tacoma 33.5%

86 Des Moines 33.2%

87 Blaine 32.9%

88 Ferndale 32.8%

89 Terrace Heights 32.8%

90 Spokane 32.6%

91 Lynnwood 32.6%

92 South Hill 32.4%

93 Snohomish 32.3%

94 Lacey 32.2%

95 Port Orchard 32.2%

96 Vancouver 31.5%

97 Burien 31.5%

98 Port Angeles 31.4%

99 Woods Creek 31.4%

100 Manchester 31.4%

The most educated cities in Washington have the highest percentages of residents with bachelor's degrees or higher. Mercer Island leads with 78.8% of residents holding a bachelor's degree.

High education levels typically correlate with higher incomes, lower unemployment, better health outcomes, and more civic engagement. These cities often host or are adjacent to major universities and research institutions that drive both education and economic development.

Highly educated communities tend to attract knowledge-based industries and employers in technology, healthcare, finance, and professional services, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of educational attainment and economic opportunity.

Did You Know?

1. In Mercer Island, 78.8% of residents have a bachelor's degree — more than double the national average of about 33%.
2. Cities near major research universities consistently rank among the most educated in the country.
3. Higher education rates correlate with higher incomes, lower crime, and better health outcomes across communities.

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