Education
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau

What does this measure?

The number of people with a particular level of education in a region, expressed as a percentage of all adults 25 and older, broken down by race and ethnicity.

Why is this important?

An educated population makes a more attractive workforce and is better prepared to instruct the next generation of residents. High educational attainment represents a region's investment in human capital and preparation for long-term growth.

How is Westchester County performing?

The proportion of adults in 2016-20 with a bachelor's degree or higher was highest among Asian (72%) and white (57%) people in Westchester, and far lower among African American (35%) and Hispanic (24%) residents.

Westchester had higher shares of both African American and Hispanic adults with at least a bachelor's degree than the state and nation. However, compared to the nation, state, and similar counties, Westchester had the largest disparities between the shares of both Hispanic and African American adults compared to the share of white adults with at least a bachelor's degree (33-point and 22-point gaps, respectively).

Why do these disparities exist?

There are a variety of factors believed to contribute to disparities in educational attainment. School systems in the United States are highly segregated, and students of color disproportionately attend schools with high proportions of low-income students who may not have benefited from early learning opportunities at the same rate as other students. Schools also have different levels of resources ranging from qualified/experienced teachers to advanced courses to facilities and technology, and schools with large Black and Latino populations often have lower levels. In addition, teachers across all school systems tend to be disproportionately white, and teaching practices and curriculum may not be culturally relevant to students of color. Low staff expectations at racially and economically segregated schools also contribute disparities in educational attainment. The accumulation of inequities leads to lower graduation rates and college matriculation, with college affordability acting as another barrier. When Black and Latino students enter higher education institutions, they are less likely to attain a college a degree given weaker academic preparation and financial hardship.

Notes about the data

The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. However, because the information came from a survey, the samples responding to the survey were not always large enough to produce reliable results, especially in small geographic areas. CGR has noted on data tables the estimates with relatively large margins of error. Estimates with three asterisks have the largest margins, plus or minus 50% or more of the estimate. Two asterisks mean plus or minus 35%-50%, and one asterisk means plus or minus 20%-35%. For all estimates, the confidence level is 90%, meaning there is 90% probability that the true value (if the whole population had reported) would be within the margin of error (or confidence interval). In practical terms, the race/ethnicity breakdowns are reliable for Westchester County but are increasingly less precise for the outlying counties, largely as a function of population. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.


Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County13%28%22%18%
Nassau County14%31%24%22%
Putnam County23%**21%*25%26%
Rockland County16%30%24%25%
New York State14%29%23%25%
Mount Vernon20%***30%30%*23%
New Rochelle18%**27%17%17%
Peekskill26%***28%*21%*22%
Rye City17%***4%***10%**11%*
White Plains11%**22%*23%18%
Yonkers20%27%23%22%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford6%***26%**14%***13%*
Cortlandt14%**29%**28%*24%
Eastchester13%**44%***22%**17%
Greenburgh7%*29%29%16%
Harrison14%***24%***22%**18%
Lewisboro19%***1%***36%***17%*
Mamaroneck8%***20%***16%**15%
Mount Kisco6%***17%***8%***16%
Mount Pleasant6%***33%**23%*18%
New Castle4%***12%***19%***9%*
North Castle3%***22%***19%***12%
North Salem23%***44%***41%***19%*
Ossining7%***32%*25%*22%
Pelham5%***23%***17%***13%*
Pound Ridge0%***12%***6%***13%*
Rye5%***16%**21%19%
Scarsdale4%***17%***4%***4%*
Somers13%***22%***27%***20%
Yorktown18%**23%***28%*21%
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley5%***14%***5%***14%*
Briarcliff Manor5%***0%***24%***12%*
Bronxville23%***N/A***0%***18%**
Buchanan0%***44%***41%***33%
Croton-on-Hudson8%***15%***13%***19%*
Dobbs Ferry1%***7%***33%**24%
Elmsford9%***31%**31%*27%*
Village of Harrison14%***24%***22%**18%
Hastings-on-Hudson4%***6%***14%***13%*
Irvington22%***100%***33%***13%**
Larchmont11%***0%***20%***13%**
Village of Mamaroneck3%***12%***16%**18%*
Village of Mount Kisco6%***17%***8%***16%
Village of Ossining7%***34%*26%*28%
Village of Pelham8%***31%***18%***15%*
Pelham Manor0%***0%***13%***11%**
Pleasantville0%***71%***21%***16%*
Port Chester2%***16%***22%23%
Rye Brook11%***12%***21%**15%*
Village of Scarsdale4%***17%***4%***4%*
Sleepy Hollow0%***51%***22%*19%*
Tarrytown5%***13%***31%***13%*
Tuckahoe11%***59%***42%***22%*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Adults, by Education Level and Race/Ethnicity
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County5,46127,74433,53778,645
Nassau County13,53133,35634,466145,695
Putnam County370**485*2,33815,889
Rockland County2,2887,9368,09034,876
New York State168,999586,573547,1792,182,619
Mount Vernon225***9,4282,146*2,584
New Rochelle645**3,0942,4885,106
Peekskill121***1,037*1,316*1,698
Rye City101***9***104**970*
White Plains385**1,127*2,7694,681
Yonkers1,8956,98111,20015,417
Westchester County Towns
Bedford37***175**314***1,204*
Cortlandt136**712**1,282*5,322
Eastchester280**201***287**3,264
Greenburgh482*2,1672,6517,228
Harrison208***88***434**2,470
Lewisboro70***1***151***1,306*
Mamaroneck109***145***488**2,496
Mount Kisco21***54***182***921
Mount Pleasant101***525**1,254*4,317
New Castle37***40***45***910*
North Castle18***49***195***829
North Salem47***70***103***636*
Ossining101***1,040*1,860*4,137
Pelham30***124***140***794*
Pound Ridge0***10***12***471*
Rye51***257**2,8313,989
Scarsdale72***25***24***374*
Somers62***68***356***2,863
Yorktown227**317***905*4,658
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley19***17***9***334*
Briarcliff Manor12***0***78***550*
Bronxville43***0***0***614**
Buchanan0***61***84***407
Croton-on-Hudson16***22***79***933*
Dobbs Ferry6***19***321**1,389
Elmsford35***215**416*373*
Village of Harrison208***88***434**2,470
Hastings-on-Hudson10***6***40***656*
Irvington70***106***94***449**
Larchmont34***0***52***482**
Village of Mamaroneck15***59***505**1,898*
Village of Mount Kisco21***54***182***921
Village of Ossining72***958*1,730*2,876
Village of Pelham30***124***104***462*
Pelham Manor0***0***36***332**
Pleasantville0***67***150***640*
Port Chester6***208***2,4942,591
Rye Brook45***9***184**825*
Village of Scarsdale72***25***24***374*
Sleepy Hollow0***197***699*749*
Tarrytown36***56***502***828*
Tuckahoe75***152***195***767*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County13%28%22%18%
Nassau County14%31%24%22%
Putnam County23%**21%*25%26%
Rockland County16%30%24%25%
New York State14%29%23%25%
Mount Vernon20%***30%30%*23%
New Rochelle18%**27%17%17%
Peekskill26%***28%*21%*22%
Rye City17%***4%***10%**11%*
White Plains11%**22%*23%18%
Yonkers20%27%23%22%
Westchester County Towns
Bedford6%***26%**14%***13%*
Cortlandt14%**29%**28%*24%
Eastchester13%**44%***22%**17%
Greenburgh7%*29%29%16%
Harrison14%***24%***22%**18%
Lewisboro19%***1%***36%***17%*
Mamaroneck8%***20%***16%**15%
Mount Kisco6%***17%***8%***16%
Mount Pleasant6%***33%**23%*18%
New Castle4%***12%***19%***9%*
North Castle3%***22%***19%***12%
North Salem23%***44%***41%***19%*
Ossining7%***32%*25%*22%
Pelham5%***23%***17%***13%*
Pound Ridge0%***12%***6%***13%*
Rye5%***16%**21%19%
Scarsdale4%***17%***4%***4%*
Somers13%***22%***27%***20%
Yorktown18%**23%***28%*21%
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley5%***14%***5%***14%*
Briarcliff Manor5%***0%***24%***12%*
Bronxville23%***N/A***0%***18%**
Buchanan0%***44%***41%***33%
Croton-on-Hudson8%***15%***13%***19%*
Dobbs Ferry1%***7%***33%**24%
Elmsford9%***31%**31%*27%*
Village of Harrison14%***24%***22%**18%
Hastings-on-Hudson4%***6%***14%***13%*
Irvington22%***100%***33%***13%**
Larchmont11%***0%***20%***13%**
Village of Mamaroneck3%***12%***16%**18%*
Village of Mount Kisco6%***17%***8%***16%
Village of Ossining7%***34%*26%*28%
Village of Pelham8%***31%***18%***15%*
Pelham Manor0%***0%***13%***11%**
Pleasantville0%***71%***21%***16%*
Port Chester2%***16%***22%23%
Rye Brook11%***12%***21%**15%*
Village of Scarsdale4%***17%***4%***4%*
Sleepy Hollow0%***51%***22%*19%*
Tarrytown5%***13%***31%***13%*
Tuckahoe11%***59%***42%***22%*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




Number of Adults, by Education Level and Race/Ethnicity, 2016-20
AsianBlack or African AmericanHispanicWhite
Westchester County5,46127,74433,53778,645
Nassau County13,53133,35634,466145,695
Putnam County370**485*2,33815,889
Rockland County2,2887,9368,09034,876
New York State168,999586,573547,1792,182,619
Mount Vernon225***9,4282,146*2,584
New Rochelle645**3,0942,4885,106
Peekskill121***1,037*1,316*1,698
Rye City101***9***104**970*
White Plains385**1,127*2,7694,681
Yonkers1,8956,98111,20015,417
Westchester County Towns
Bedford37***175**314***1,204*
Cortlandt136**712**1,282*5,322
Eastchester280**201***287**3,264
Greenburgh482*2,1672,6517,228
Harrison208***88***434**2,470
Lewisboro70***1***151***1,306*
Mamaroneck109***145***488**2,496
Mount Kisco21***54***182***921
Mount Pleasant101***525**1,254*4,317
New Castle37***40***45***910*
North Castle18***49***195***829
North Salem47***70***103***636*
Ossining101***1,040*1,860*4,137
Pelham30***124***140***794*
Pound Ridge0***10***12***471*
Rye51***257**2,8313,989
Scarsdale72***25***24***374*
Somers62***68***356***2,863
Yorktown227**317***905*4,658
Westchester County Villages
Ardsley19***17***9***334*
Briarcliff Manor12***0***78***550*
Bronxville43***0***0***614**
Buchanan0***61***84***407
Croton-on-Hudson16***22***79***933*
Dobbs Ferry6***19***321**1,389
Elmsford35***215**416*373*
Village of Harrison208***88***434**2,470
Hastings-on-Hudson10***6***40***656*
Irvington70***106***94***449**
Larchmont34***0***52***482**
Village of Mamaroneck15***59***505**1,898*
Village of Mount Kisco21***54***182***921
Village of Ossining72***958*1,730*2,876
Village of Pelham30***124***104***462*
Pelham Manor0***0***36***332**
Pleasantville0***67***150***640*
Port Chester6***208***2,4942,591
Rye Brook45***9***184**825*
Village of Scarsdale72***25***24***374*
Sleepy Hollow0***197***699*749*
Tarrytown36***56***502***828*
Tuckahoe75***152***195***767*

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Notes: Adults are people 25 and older. Multiyear results are from rolling American Community Survey. * Margin of error between 20% & 35% of estimate; ** margin of error between 35% & 50%; *** margin of error greater than 50%. The Census Bureau asks people to identify their race (white, African-American, etc.) separate from their ethnicity (Hispanic or non-Hispanic). So the totals for these categories cannot be added together, as people show up in both a racial and ethnic group.




INDICATORS TREND | WESTCHESTER
Early Prenatal Care, by Mother's Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Infant Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Children with Elevated Blood Lead Levels 0
Maintaining
Children Receiving Subsidized Child Care 0
Maintaining
Children Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Disengaged Youth, Ages 16 to 19 -1
Decreasing
Single-Parent Families, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Single Female-Headed Households 0
Maintaining
Contributions as a Percentage of Income 0
Maintaining
Voter Registration Rate 1
Increasing
Voter Participation Rate 1
Increasing
Serious Crimes -1
Decreasing
Reported Victims of Domestic Violence -1
Decreasing
Arrest Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households With Internet Access, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Households without Vehicles -1
Decreasing
Means of Transportation to Work, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Air Quality 1
Increasing
Population Density 0
Maintaining
Water Quality of the Long Island Sound 1
Increasing
Open Space in Westchester County 1
Increasing
Change in Total Population 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Change in Population, by Age -1
Decreasing
People with Disabilities 1
Increasing
Language Diversity 1
Increasing
People 65 or Older Living Alone 1
Increasing
Change in Total Jobs -1
Decreasing
Change in Jobs by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Business Ownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Average Salary by Sector 10 Not Applicable*
Median Household Income, by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Female to Male Earnings Ratio 0
Maintaining
Unemployment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
People Living in Poverty -1
Decreasing
People Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Seniors Living in Poverty 0
Maintaining
Seniors Living in Poverty, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Food Insecurity -1
Decreasing
Households Receiving SNAP, by Race/Ethnicity 0
Maintaining
Public Assistance 0
Maintaining
People Receiving Supplemental Security Income 1
Increasing
Homeownership Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
Cost of Homeownership, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Overall Housing Cost Burden -1
Decreasing
Cost of Rent, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Rent Burdened Households -1
Decreasing
Homelessness, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Homelessness, by Sex 10 Not Applicable*
Per-Student Spending 0
Maintaining
Student Suspensions -1
Decreasing
Student Performance on Grade 3 English, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
High School Cohort Graduation Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
College Admission Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
College Enrollment Rate, by Race/Ethnicity -1
Decreasing
Education Levels of Adults, by Race/Ethnicity 1
Increasing
People Without Health Insurance -1
Decreasing
Mortality Rate, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Mortality Rate from Chronic Lower Respiratory Disease, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Diabetes Mortality, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*
Suicide Rates, by Race/Ethnicity 10 Not Applicable*


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