Why it matters: A rising share of college-educated adults can help reshape a metro area's economic trajectory, workforce and competitiveness — a much-needed boost the Portland area could use right now.
Between the lines: Nearly 90% of metro areas saw an increase in the share of adults 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher, per the Census Bureau's latest 5-year American Community Survey estimates.
A given metro's share can increase if more residents get their degrees, or if more people with degrees move into town.
Follow the money: The median annual earnings for a college grad in Portland is a little more than $76,000, compared to just over $45,000 for workers whose education stopped at high school.