Higher Education in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metro Area

In the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metro Area according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 33.8 percent of the White Alone, 19.2 percent of Black or African American, 41.8 percent of the Asian alone and 13.8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino (+25) population has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metro Area has a highly-educated working age population, with 30.4 percent of the population (+25) having received at least a Bachelors Degree, as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord MSA was reported to have a higher percent of highly educated individuals than the State of North Carolina's proportion of 25.2 percent and a higher percent than the US proportion of 27.2 percent.

From 2000, the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 4.0 percent to a total of 30.4 percent in 2005. According to the American Community Survey, the proportion of the population in 2005 with a BA or Higher is greater than the 2005 State of North Carolina percent of 25.2 and greater than the US percent of 27.2.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 3.8 percent. As reported in 2005, 31.8 percent of total male population (over 25), in this area, held at least a Bachelors Degree. At the same time, the percent of women (over 25) holding a BA or higher has increased by a total of 4.0 percent. By 2005, a total of 29 percent of the total female population achieved this high level of education.

In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC Metro Area, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the Bachelors Degree or Higher category, with 31.8 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area have attainment on average a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 31.8 percent (Men) versus 29 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 30.6 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord, NC-SC

The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population base that is comprised of 65.7 percent White, 23.1 percent African American, 2.5 percent Asian, and 7.5 percent Hispanic. The area can be described as having a high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 33.1 percent minorities. This is greater than the State of North Carolina percent of 29.6. Since 2000, Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord has increased in diversity when 29.4 percent of the people were minorities.

By measuring total land area, the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area spans a total of 3098 square miles. This area has a medium-high average area density of 491 persons per square mile, in 2005. Other US metro areas with similar densities include: -- more densely populated -- Dayton (494 per sq. mile ), Vallejo-Fairfield (496 per sq. mile ), Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice (513 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Atlantic City (483 per sq. mile ), Ann Arbor (482 per sq. mile ), Stockton (475 per sq. mile ).

From 2000, a very high number of individuals have migrated into the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area, with 33,849 people migrating in from another country. The international migration into Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord totals 21.4 percent of the total migration into the State of North Carolina. This amount of international migration is very high when analyzed against immigration per population in 2005.

The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area had a population of 1,521,278 in 2005. The total population has increased sharply, from the population in the year 2000 of 1,339,901. This growth represents an increase of 13.5 percent. Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord ranks 1 of 14 MSAs when analyzing total population change in North Carolina and the metro area ranks 16 of 361 metro areas when calculating the total change in MSA population across the US.

The Census Bureau estimates in 2005 the median age in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area to be 34.9 years of age. The median in Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord is less than the median in North Carolina of 36.2. From 2000, the area has seen an increase in the median age, when it was 34.3 years of age. With a total of 7.2 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord can be understood as having a medium-high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-high representation within the estimated 2005 area population, making up 62.6 percent of the population within the age group. People 65 and older make up 13 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-low proportion of the area population base.

Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.