RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Fewest graduate degrees, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2024 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most graduate degrees, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Long View, NCNC5,3871.3%−1.9 pts

02Dallas, NCNC6,3922.8%+1.4 pts

03Roxboro, NCNC8,3803.1%+0.3 pts

04Selma, NCNC7,4063.6%+1.4 pts

05Eden, NCNC15,5003.7%+0.2 pts

06Marion, NCNC7,4403.9%−0.4 pts

07Lexington, NCNC20,2383.9%−0.3 pts

08Sawmills, NCNC5,1054.0%+1.0 pts

09Midway, NCNC5,1044.0%–

10Hamlet, NCNC5,8704.1%+0.8 pts

11Henderson, NCNC15,0134.5%−0.5 pts

12Williamston, NCNC5,0864.6%−1.0 pts

13Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.7%+1.8 pts

14Northchase, NCNC5,8964.8%–

15Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.0%−0.1 pts

16Wadesboro, NCNC5,0355.0%+0.4 pts

17Cherryville, NCNC6,5235.1%+2.1 pts

18Newton, NCNC13,8225.2%+1.3 pts

19Nashville, NCNC5,9115.2%−0.6 pts

20Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.3%+2.9 pts

21Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1175.3%+2.5 pts

22Lenoir, NCNC18,3725.5%+1.5 pts

23Piney Green, NCNC14,0785.7%+1.3 pts

24Oxford, NCNC8,9855.9%+0.3 pts

25Reidsville, NCNC14,6925.9%+1.1 pts

26Siler City, NCNC8,1555.9%+3.9 pts

27Butner, NCNC8,1125.9%+2.7 pts

28Unionville, NCNC7,3226.0%+2.4 pts

29St. Stephens, NCNC9,4576.0%+2.9 pts

30Asheboro, NCNC27,9906.1%+1.0 pts

31Conover, NCNC8,9386.2%+0.8 pts

32Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1656.2%+0.4 pts

33Forest City, NCNC7,4106.4%+3.1 pts

34Havelock, NCNC17,4306.6%+3.2 pts

35Spring Lake, NCNC11,2526.6%+4.4 pts

36Locust, NCNC6,1206.8%+3.1 pts

37King, NCNC7,9776.8%+1.7 pts

38Graham, NCNC20,1316.8%+3.1 pts

39Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6496.8%–

40Archdale, NCNC12,2546.8%+4.2 pts

41Kinston, NCNC19,7056.9%+1.7 pts

42Sanford, NCNC34,1387.0%+0.3 pts

43Lillington, NCNC5,0407.0%+3.1 pts

44Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2877.0%+3.8 pts

45Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.1%−0.3 pts

46Washington, NCNC9,9107.2%+0.8 pts

47Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3867.3%+2.9 pts

48East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3237.4%+5.9 pts

49Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8757.4%+4.0 pts

50Hope Mills, NCNC18,3247.5%+4.0 pts

51Rockingham, NCNC8,8157.6%+2.8 pts

52Trinity, NCNC7,2747.6%+4.8 pts

53Goldsboro, NCNC35,0127.7%+1.3 pts

54Swannanoa, NCNC6,9017.7%+4.9 pts

55Ayden, NCNC5,2637.8%+3.3 pts

56Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.8%+0.0 pts

57Mocksville, NCNC6,2827.8%+4.1 pts

58Dunn, NCNC8,8147.8%+3.7 pts

59Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.9%+0.1 pts

60Monroe, NCNC42,6447.9%+3.0 pts

61Kings Grant, NCNC9,0038.1%+3.3 pts

62Mount Airy, NCNC10,6828.1%+3.0 pts

63Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1208.2%+2.1 pts

64Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6228.5%+3.3 pts

65Statesville, NCNC32,1818.7%+3.4 pts

66Gastonia, NCNC87,0678.8%+3.1 pts

67Smithfield, NCNC13,1148.9%+3.0 pts

68Lincolnton, NCNC12,4659.0%+4.0 pts

69Wilson, NCNC49,5729.1%+4.0 pts

70Clinton, NCNC8,4669.2%+3.5 pts

71Burlington, NCNC61,4969.4%+3.4 pts

72Jacksonville, NCNC72,7329.5%+4.0 pts

73Walkertown, NCNC6,1209.9%+6.6 pts

74Zebulon, NCNC11,93310.0%+6.2 pts

75Midland, NCNC5,15110.0%–

76Fletcher, NCNC8,37310.1%+3.0 pts

77Tarboro, NCNC10,97910.2%+5.4 pts

78Fayetteville, NCNC209,12010.3%+2.1 pts

79Morganton, NCNC17,84910.4%+3.1 pts

80Kannapolis, NCNC61,70810.6%+7.8 pts

81Half Moon, NCNC7,37810.6%+5.6 pts

82Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54010.7%+3.1 pts

83Shelby, NCNC23,30910.8%+4.7 pts

84Morehead City, NCNC10,43411.1%+5.8 pts

85Hampstead, NCNC9,29211.3%–

86Creedmoor, NCNC5,04611.4%+5.5 pts

87Westport, NCNC5,91511.6%−1.3 pts

88Barbecue, NCNC5,91011.7%–

89Mount Holly, NCNC19,03311.8%+9.1 pts

90Salisbury, NCNC36,87912.1%+5.7 pts

91Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90612.5%–

92High Point, NCNC120,57112.6%+6.1 pts

93Hickory, NCNC45,97513.2%+4.5 pts

94Aberdeen, NCNC10,06613.2%+6.5 pts

95Angier, NCNC9,41013.3%+10.7 pts

96Clayton, NCNC32,63313.4%+7.5 pts

97Pineville, NCNC11,85113.5%+7.2 pts

98Indian Trail, NCNC44,30313.5%+8.2 pts

99Spout Springs, NCNC11,24213.6%–

100Murraysville, NCNC16,33913.7%+9.7 pts

101Gibsonville, NCNC9,87613.7%+5.9 pts

102Mebane, NCNC21,95213.7%+6.6 pts

103New Bern, NCNC34,72413.8%+6.5 pts

104Kernersville, NCNC29,12813.8%+6.5 pts

105Waynesville, NCNC11,00613.9%+7.9 pts

106Stokesdale, NCNC6,13314.1%+5.9 pts

107Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92714.1%–

108Leland, NCNC35,73114.3%+11.8 pts

109Moyock, NCNC5,68414.4%–

110Silver Lake, NCNC6,56314.5%+8.1 pts

111Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73114.7%+7.3 pts

112Mooresville, NCNC55,84214.7%+8.6 pts

113Mint Hill, NCNC29,47614.9%+8.8 pts

114Brevard, NCNC8,09815.2%+4.8 pts

115Lewisville, NCNC14,42115.3%+2.5 pts

116Wendell, NCNC19,68715.3%+11.2 pts

117Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87015.7%+9.3 pts

118Hendersonville, NCNC15,86715.9%+4.2 pts

119Concord, NCNC114,59816.0%+10.1 pts

120Oak Island, NCNC9,33716.2%+9.5 pts

121Cramerton, NCNC5,71316.2%+8.5 pts

122Greensboro, NCNC308,66716.3%+5.6 pts

123Wilmington, NCNC126,80916.4%+7.9 pts

124Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27116.7%+5.7 pts

125Etowah, NCNC7,96816.9%+10.5 pts

126Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53617.2%+9.8 pts

127Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63717.2%+8.1 pts

128Stallings, NCNC17,76017.3%+14.8 pts

129Charlotte, NCNC964,78417.3%+6.8 pts

130Greenville, NCNC96,44317.8%+3.4 pts

131Garner, NCNC41,56217.9%+11.2 pts

132Clemmons, NCNC22,80818.0%+3.6 pts

133Matthews, NCNC32,76918.2%+5.7 pts

134Cullowhee, NCNC7,97318.3%−10.4 pts

135Winterville, NCNC10,97318.3%+14.2 pts

136Woodfin, NCNC8,22918.4%+15.1 pts

137Mills River, NCNC7,50418.6%–

138Pittsboro, NCNC5,05419.0%+10.3 pts

139Belmont, NCNC16,41519.2%+12.9 pts

140Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90819.2%+17.8 pts

141Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56620.4%+10.2 pts

142Waxhaw, NCNC23,14020.5%+16.2 pts

143Surf City, NCNC5,14220.5%+11.7 pts

144Knightdale, NCNC23,14420.6%+12.6 pts

145Harrisburg, NCNC20,74221.0%+15.8 pts

146Raleigh, NCNC506,30621.1%+6.7 pts

147Huntersville, NCNC68,53521.1%+9.0 pts

148Black Mountain, NCNC8,49121.8%+11.4 pts

149Cornelius, NCNC35,09422.1%+8.3 pts

150Asheville, NCNC93,52322.7%+11.9 pts

151Southern Pines, NCNC17,35723.5%+11.2 pts

152Wake Forest, NCNC58,14723.7%+13.0 pts

153Ogden, NCNC8,24923.9%+12.2 pts

154Summerfield, NCNC11,32724.3%+11.7 pts

155Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49424.6%+18.9 pts

156Weddington, NCNC14,51725.2%+13.1 pts

157Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89625.3%+12.5 pts

158Holly Springs, NCNC50,28826.9%+14.7 pts

159Rolesville, NCNC12,83926.9%+22.0 pts

160Durham, NCNC305,56127.1%+8.8 pts

161Pinehurst, NCNC18,67028.0%+10.6 pts

162Elon, NCNC11,36628.0%–

163Porters Neck, NCNC7,65429.1%–

164Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50529.8%+12.5 pts

165Boone, NCNC19,92930.3%+7.0 pts

166Apex, NCNC80,41930.5%+13.5 pts

167St. James, NCNC7,31830.9%+8.7 pts

168Hillsborough, NCNC9,77831.2%+19.3 pts

169Cary, NCNC183,58233.7%+10.8 pts

170Morrisville, NCNC32,46634.6%+15.2 pts

171Davidson, NCNC16,66239.0%+13.5 pts

172Carrboro, NCNC20,96243.5%+12.9 pts

173Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04943.6%–

174Marvin, NCNC7,04044.8%+20.7 pts

175Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56545.2%+4.7 pts

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

Download CSV (full list, 175 rows)

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES