America's Smartest Cities?

[Pegasus]

The U.S. government has released new census data identifying metro areas with the highest and lowest percentages of college degrees (Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates).

Do any of the cities on either list surprise you?

 

http://filefap.com/files/1029695_gj0q6/chart_metro_area_top10.gif

http://filefap.com/files/1029696_dtjao/chart_metro_area_bottom10.gif

 

See complete article here: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/01/pf/college/Americas_brainiest_cities/index.htm

[leigh.bess.toad]

Not really. However I might take a bit of an exception to your title. I've known a hell of a ot of advanced degree holders who were idiots in many ways I've also known a lot of GED holders who were brilliant. A piece of paper does not mean brains.

 

I would have thought Philly might have been on there since there seems to be a university on virtually every street corner. And I'm surprised Boston isn't a bit higher. The boys in Harvard Yard probably won't be happy.

[Guest Spanky]

For shits and grins, and because (sadly) I have nothing better to do on a Friday night, I pulled some municipal poverty data from the American Communities Survey. In a thundering "DUH" revelation, in these 20 cities there is a -.83 correlation between poverty level and percentage of the pop with college degrees, about the same for child poverty. Caveat: the ACS data are from 2008 and the article doesn't describe the data that were used for this college degree thing, but still. This stuff doesn't change all that much year to year.

 

The only interesting tidbit is Austin. Of the top ten cities for degrees, Austin has by far the highest total and child poverty. Higher than three of the cities in the bottom ten in fact. (More poor people in Austin than Vegas!) I guess smart people work cheap in Austin.

 

Of course, we all could have surmised as much, but I got to feel all data sexy for about 5 minutes.

 

 

The U.S. government has released new census data identifying metro areas with the highest and lowest percentages of college degrees (Bachelors, Masters and Doctorates).

Do any of the cities on either list surprise you?

 

http://filefap.com/files/1029695_gj0q6/chart_metro_area_top10.gif

http://filefap.com/files/1029696_dtjao/chart_metro_area_bottom10.gif

 

See complete article here: http://money.cnn.com/2010/10/01/pf/college/Americas_brainiest_cities/index.htm

[leigh.bess.toad]

Spanky, we have got to get you and me a life. This stuff on Friday night is just too boring.

 

But thanks for the input.

 

I guess what it means is that Michael Dell is too cheap to pay his employees.

[Pegasus]

However I might take a bit of an exception to your title. I've known a hell of a ot of advanced degree holders who were idiots in many ways I've also known a lot of GED holders who were brilliant. A piece of paper does not mean brains.

 

Hello leigh.bess.toad: I agree with you 100%. "College Degree" does not always equate with "Smart." The title of the CNN/MONEY article included in my original post was "America's Smartest Cities." I added the "?" at the end of the heading fore the very reason you cite. Thanks for articulating my intended sentiment more clearly.

[+ Axiom2001]

Not really. However I might take a bit of an exception to your title. I've known a hell of a ot of advanced degree holders who were idiots in many ways I've also known a lot of GED holders who were brilliant. A piece of paper does not mean brains.

 

I would have thought Philly might have been on there since there seems to be a university on virtually every street corner. And I'm surprised Boston isn't a bit higher. The boys in Harvard Yard probably won't be happy.

 

I concur with your sentiments, especially those cited in the first three sentences! I know little about Philadelphia, so I shall not react or respond to this reaction. Thanks away for your salient and timely response! -

[Guest greatness]

I agree.

 

Not really. However I might take a bit of an exception to your title. I've known a hell of a ot of advanced degree holders who were idiots in many ways I've also known a lot of GED holders who were brilliant. A piece of paper does not mean brains.

[JoeyBryant]

Well, I think it would help if they included the amount of people who run their own business. I've lived in subdivisions where atleast 1 of my neighbors ran their own business but did not have a degree.

 

But of the cities in the lower percentages...I'd say they only 1 I'd actually like is Orlando, and thats just for a weekend. Vegas...on holiday. Dont even get me started on San Antonio LOL

[Poolboy21409]

Degrees - bullshit. I have several but the old adage still stays: "The A students are professors, the B student are working for the C student and the drop outs own the Companies"

[JoeyBryant]

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sorry, had to throw a bit a grammatical correction in there LOL