Population Health Research Brief Series

Abstract

The gap in life expectancy between Americans with and without a bachelor's degree keeps growing, but an individual’s education is only part of the story. Where people live matters too. This brief examines how a county's educational makeup affects mortality rates for both BA holders and non-BA holders. The authors find a troubling pattern: as the share of BA holders in a county increases, mortality declines for BA holders but increases for non-BA holders. The findings suggest competition for limited resources, with health services, quality housing, and community amenities concentrating in areas serving BA holders.