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GeraLearn / US Opportunity Profile

Gera US Opportunity Profile by County

Real ACS 2019–2023 Census data for 350 US counties — compare educational attainment, median household income, employment rate, and commute flexibility. US median income: $78,538. BA+ rate: 35%.

Which US counties have the highest education and economic opportunity?

The Gera US Opportunity Profile (GUSOP) ranks all US counties by educational attainment, median household income, employment rate, and commute flexibility using real ACS 2019–2023 data. The US national median household income is $78,538 and 35% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher (Census Bureau, 2019–2023 (ACS 5-Year Estimates)).

Source:US Census Bureau — American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates 2019–2023·As of 2019–2023 (ACS 5-Year Estimates) · updated annually · last refreshed

Gera US Opportunity Profile

US national average — computed from real ACS data (2019–2023 (ACS 5-Year Estimates)). Scores above 100 indicate above-average opportunity across education, income, employment, and commute flexibility.

How this is calculated
100 / 150

Look up your county's opportunity profile

Search by county name or state — get the real ACS figures and how your county compares to the US national average.

US national benchmarks (ACS 2019–2023)

MetricUS AverageACS Table
Median household income$78,538B19013
Bachelor's degree or higher (25+)35%B15003
Civilian unemployment rate5.2%B23025
Work from home rate2.4%B08301
Public transit commute rate3.5%B08301

Highest GUSOP — top counties by opportunity

#CountyMedian IncomeBA+GUSOP
1Alexandria city, VA$113,63865.8%150
2Arlington County, VA$140,16077.1%150
3Falls Church city, VA$154,73479.7%150
4Los Alamos County, NM$143,18868.2%148
5Fairfax County, VA$150,11364.3%148
6Montgomery County, MD$128,73360.3%147
7Teton County, WY$112,68161.2%147
8Marin County, CA$142,78560.5%146
9San Francisco County, CA$141,44660.1%146
10Pitkin County, CO$100,31864%146
11District of Columbia, DC$106,28763.6%146
12New York County, NY$104,55364%146
13Middlesex County, MA$126,77959%145
14Fairfax city, VA$132,77462.3%145
15Boulder County, CO$102,77263.9%143
Lowest GUSOP — counties with highest upskilling ROI

Browse by state

Average GUSOP across counties in this dataset for each state.

Alabama5 counties · avg 98
Alaska5 counties · avg 108
Arizona5 counties · avg 93
Arkansas5 counties · avg 90
California18 counties · avg 120
Colorado25 counties · avg 124
Connecticut6 counties · avg 116
Delaware3 counties · avg 94
District of Columbia1 county · avg 146
Florida5 counties · avg 108
Georgia8 counties · avg 118
Hawaii5 counties · avg 101
Idaho5 counties · avg 111
Illinois7 counties · avg 115
Indiana5 counties · avg 115
Iowa5 counties · avg 115
Kansas5 counties · avg 113
Kentucky5 counties · avg 105
Louisiana5 counties · avg 94
Maine5 counties · avg 106
Maryland13 counties · avg 116
Massachusetts10 counties · avg 126
Michigan5 counties · avg 115
Minnesota8 counties · avg 119
Mississippi5 counties · avg 97
Missouri5 counties · avg 109
Montana5 counties · avg 107
Nebraska5 counties · avg 102
Nevada5 counties · avg 91
New Hampshire5 counties · avg 109
New Jersey12 counties · avg 124
New Mexico5 counties · avg 106
New York15 counties · avg 120
North Carolina5 counties · avg 121
North Dakota5 counties · avg 101
Ohio5 counties · avg 113
Oklahoma5 counties · avg 93
Oregon6 counties · avg 116
Pennsylvania6 counties · avg 121
Rhode Island5 counties · avg 114
South Carolina5 counties · avg 104
South Dakota5 counties · avg 104
Tennessee5 counties · avg 107
Texas9 counties · avg 117
Utah7 counties · avg 114
Vermont5 counties · avg 115
Virginia25 counties · avg 124
Washington6 counties · avg 118
West Virginia5 counties · avg 94
Wisconsin5 counties · avg 114
Wyoming5 counties · avg 111

All counties (A–Z)

US Opportunity Profile — FAQ

What is the Gera US Opportunity Profile (GUSOP)?
The GUSOP is a composite score (0–150) computed by GeraLearn from four real ACS variables: educational attainment (BA+ rate, weight 40), median household income (weight 25), employment rate (weight 25), and commute flexibility (WFH + transit share, weight 10). A score of 100 matches the US national average exactly. All figures come from the US Census Bureau's ACS 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023 (ACS 5-Year Estimates)).
What does a high GUSOP score mean for education?
Counties with GUSOP above 115 typically combine a highly educated workforce (BA+ rate well above the US average of 35%) with higher median incomes (above $78,538). These areas tend to have competitive job markets where credentials and skills directly correlate with higher earnings.
Which US counties score lowest on the GUSOP?
The lowest-scoring counties (GUSOP below 60) are predominantly in rural Appalachia, the Mississippi Delta, and parts of the Deep South, where median household incomes fall below $40,000, unemployment rates exceed 10%, and fewer than 10% of adults hold bachelor's degrees. These are also areas where upskilling via online education delivers the highest relative ROI.
How often is the GUSOP updated?
The GUSOP is updated annually when the US Census Bureau releases new ACS 5-Year Estimates. The current dataset covers 2019–2023, published October 2024. The next update will incorporate ACS 2020–2024 data when released (expected late 2025).
Where does the data come from?
All data comes from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) Summary File flat-file downloads at www2.census.gov — no API key required, US Public Domain. Tables used: B15003 (educational attainment by age), B19013 (median household income), B23025 (employment status), and B08301 (means of transportation to work).
Can I use GUSOP to decide where to live or work?
GUSOP is a research tool showing how counties compare on four structural ACS variables — it is not a quality-of-life ranking and does not include cost-of-living, housing costs, climate, or personal preferences. Use it alongside housing costs, school ratings, and local employment data for a fuller picture.

Turn opportunity gaps into career gains

Whether your county scores above or below the US average, GeraLearn offers AI-powered courses aligned to the skills employers actually hire for — helping you move up regardless of where you start.

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Get the annual ACS update

We update county opportunity profiles when the Census Bureau releases new ACS data each year. Get notified when the 2024 estimates land.

Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2019–2023 (ACS 5-Year Estimates)), released October 2024. Tables B15003, B19013, B23025, B08301. US Public Domain. The Gera US Opportunity Profile (GUSOP) is computed by GeraLearn from these figures; no number is modelled, interpolated, or invented. GUSOP methodology: https://geralearn.com/us-opportunity-profile/methodology