Least educated counties in Maine
The value of traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step toward the American dream, growing costs have led many students to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push others toward learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, compiled a list of the least educated counties in Maine using data from the . Counties are ranked by the lowest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher. Ties are broken by the highest percent with less than high school diploma.
Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in Maine.
#16. Cumberland County
- 47.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% ($23,814 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($31,729)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($39,665)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.2% ($51,031)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.4% ($65,124)
#15. Sagadahoc County
- 36.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6% ($21,452 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30% ($31,615)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($40,947)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($48,432)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.4% ($58,875)
#14. Hancock County
- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($25,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.8% ($30,793)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($33,190)
- Bachelor's degree: 20% ($41,367)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14% ($51,735)
#13. Knox County
- 33.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($26,214 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.9% ($29,032)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.1% ($30,575)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.2% ($38,710)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.4% ($53,740)
#12. Lincoln County
- 33.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7% ($21,818 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($29,560)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.2% ($32,013)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($42,155)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.2% ($53,250)
#11. York County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($30,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30% ($34,072)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($39,955)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.4% ($49,226)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.1% ($59,477)
#10. Waldo County
- 31.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($21,569 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($27,590)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($32,444)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($41,195)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($51,734)
#9. Kennebec County
- 28.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($23,921 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($31,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.7% ($36,302)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($44,978)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($63,256)
#8. Penobscot County
- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($25,292 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.6% ($29,097)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($33,322)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($43,572)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% ($58,941)
#7. Franklin County
- 24.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($15,028 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38% ($29,488)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($32,358)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($40,630)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($50,273)
#6. Androscoggin County
- 22.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($21,189 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($31,996)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32% ($36,742)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($47,124)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($62,574)
#5. Washington County
- 22% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($23,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38% ($27,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($27,792)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($35,357)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($42,990)
#4. Oxford County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($23,671 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42% ($27,432)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($30,130)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($38,704)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($52,983)
#3. Aroostook County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($19,094 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($27,079)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32% ($34,478)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($43,575)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($52,764)
#2. Piscataquis County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($16,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($26,181)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($31,342)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($36,921)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($47,500)
#1. Somerset County
- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.6% ($13,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($27,126)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($32,099)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($43,397)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($59,792)
