The 5 Most Educated Places in Ohio

When it comes to higher education, it can be interesting to look at demographics in a particular area. Education level is often tied to job prospects and the local industry. For example, towns and cities with a lot of colleges and universities often have a population with a higher level of education overall. Not only do they need to employ people with advanced degrees to teach and do research, but alumni may stay nearby if they find the right job or path after graduation. Within larger cities, certain areas may have higher levels of education on average if they are near hospitals, laboratories, or industries that require specialized skills or knowledge.

For our purposes, we’re looking at four-year degrees (and more) when analyzing the most educated places in Ohio. Of course, that doesn’t always mean better job prospects or higher earnings. Skilled tradespeople and business owners may earn more without the same degree. But here we’ll look at the most educated places in Ohio by county according to data gathered by Google’s Data Commons initiative.

1. Delaware County

The top location for the most educated place in Ohio is Delaware County with just over 36% of the residents having bachelor’s degrees or higher. Located in the central part of Ohio, Delaware County is part of the greater Columbus area and home to some of the must-see attractions in the metropolitan area, including the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. It is one of the wealthier counties in Ohio and even across the entire United States. The population is around 210,000 people and the median household income is just over $116,000 annually. Because of its proximity to Columbus, many residents live in Delaware but commute to work in the city of Columbus.

2. Warren County

According to Data Commons, 29% of the residents in Warren County, Ohio have four-year degrees or higher. It is located near the southwestern corner of the state. It is another wealthy area and has one of the highest median household incomes across the entire state. Of its 246,000 residents, the median household income is just over $103,000 per year. It is included in the Cincinnati metropolitan area. Similar to Delaware County, many of the residents in Warren County commute for work. Warren County is also home to major industry locations itself. These include a Proctor & Gamble research facility that is more than 2 million square feet, the corporate headquarters for LensCrafters, and two hospitals.

3. Greene County

To the northeast of Warren County lies Greene County, which shares a border with its well-educated neighbor. Roughly 27.5% of Greene County residents have a bachelor’s degree or higher. While the median household income isn’t as high as in Warren County, there are key institutions in Greene County that contribute to the high education level of its residents. There are seven colleges and universities within the county. Most notably, Ohio University houses the 70-acre Russ Research Center in Beavercreek Township. This facility focuses on high-tech research related to defense, engineering, and technology.

4. Franklin County

Just behind Greene County in the rankings for higher education is Franklin County. Of its residents, 27.4% have bachelor’s degrees or higher. Franklin County is directly south of Delaware County. The state’s capital city, Columbus, is in Franklin County so much of the business of this area revolves around state government. It is also home to Ohio State University, which houses around 66,000 students plus almost 48,000 faculty and staff. In addition to Ohio State University and the Ohio state government, OhioHealth is a top employer. This system includes numerous hospitals, clinics, facilities, and offices in Columbus, Franklin County, and across the state of Ohio.

5. Hamilton County

Located in the southwestern corner of Ohio is Hamilton County, which has 26.8% of its residents with bachelor’s degrees or higher. It is home to Cincinnati, the largest city in the county as well as its county seat. Cincinnati is the largest city by population in Ohio with roughly 308,000 people living in the city limits and around 2.2 million in the greater metro area. Cincinnati is known for its cuisine, baseball, and arts and culture. Findlay’s Market, the city’s oldest public market, is a must-visit spot. It is also one of the oldest cities in the state and was founded in 1788.