Arlington is no longer just the “Fittest City” in the country, it has also claimed the title of “Most Educated,” according to a report by Northern Kentucky University.
In Arlington, 41.8% of adults 25 and older have a graduate degree, with Washington, DC coming in ranked No. 2 with 38.3%. Fremont, California (32%); Seattle (31.9%); and Irvine, California (31.3%) round out the Top 5.
Looking at the region’s workforce trends, it’s no surprise why Arlington and DC are No. 1 and No. 2 for most educated cities. When diving into the workforce trends, Arlington again ranks No. 1, this time for tech-related jobs. The report shows that 29.9% of all the jobs in Arlington are in the technology field, while DC is ranked No. 5 with 25.3% of its jobs falling under tech.
“Arlington, Washington, DC, and Fremont demonstrate how advanced education and industry development often progress together, shaping where new opportunities emerge,” the Northern Kentucky University report explains. “These regions demonstrate how a strong knowledge base supports innovation and sustainable economic growth.”
The university report analyzed employment data across 105 major U.S. cities from the U.S. Census Bureau from 2014 and 2024 to track which regions in the country are producing the most jobs in technology-related fields, health care, finance, and other fields; and which cities produce the most graduate-level professionals fueling these industries.
Feature image, Andriy Blokhin/stock.adobe.com
