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

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.

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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