RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Fewest graduate degrees, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Leland, NCNC35,7310.3%−89%

02Sawmills, NCNC5,1050.9%−69%

03Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2871.0%−69%

04Trinity, NCNC7,2741.2%−58%

05Locust, NCNC6,1201.3%−63%

06East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.4%−6%

07Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.5%+6%

08Piney Green, NCNC14,0781.5%−67%

09Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331.5%−44%

10Woodfin, NCNC8,2291.6%−53%

11Holly Springs, NCNC50,2881.7%−86%

12Stallings, NCNC17,7601.7%−30%

13Long View, NCNC5,3871.8%−43%

14Butner, NCNC8,1121.9%−41%

15St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.9%−37%

16Bessemer City, NCNC5,8341.9%−18%

17Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032.0%−62%

18Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.1%−7%

19Siler City, NCNC8,1552.1%+8%

20Angier, NCNC9,4102.2%−14%

21Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.2%−20%

22Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.3%−70%

23Mebane, NCNC21,9522.4%−67%

24Forest City, NCNC7,4102.4%−28%

25Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.4%−13%

26Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.5%−25%

27Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.5%−13%

28Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.5%−11%

29King, NCNC7,9772.5%−50%

30Half Moon, NCNC7,3782.6%−49%

31Graham, NCNC20,1312.8%−26%

32Eden, NCNC15,5002.8%−20%

33Zebulon, NCNC11,9332.9%−25%

34Henderson, NCNC15,0132.9%−41%

35Newton, NCNC13,8223.0%−23%

36Havelock, NCNC17,4303.0%−11%

37Mount Airy, NCNC10,6823.0%−40%

38Archdale, NCNC12,2543.0%+15%

39Albemarle, NCNC17,7693.1%−38%

40Lexington, NCNC20,2383.1%−26%

41Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.2%−40%

42Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.2%+9%

43Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%−22%

44Dallas, NCNC6,3923.2%+131%

45Stokesdale, NCNC6,1333.3%−60%

46Williamston, NCNC5,0863.3%−41%

47Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.3%−3%

48Ayden, NCNC5,2633.4%−24%

49Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.4%−44%

50Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.4%+4%

51Winterville, NCNC10,9733.6%−13%

52Tarboro, NCNC10,9793.6%−26%

53Asheboro, NCNC27,9903.6%−30%

54Creedmoor, NCNC5,0463.6%−40%

55Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.6%−49%

56Nashville, NCNC5,9113.6%−38%

57Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3863.7%−16%

58Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.7%−26%

59Swannanoa, NCNC6,9013.8%+32%

60Etowah, NCNC7,9683.8%−40%

61Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.8%−26%

62Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%−4%

63Mint Hill, NCNC29,4763.9%−36%

64Belmont, NCNC16,4153.9%−38%

65Kernersville, NCNC29,1283.9%−46%

66Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.0%−15%

67Selma, NCNC7,4064.0%+79%

68Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6224.0%−23%

69Washington, NCNC9,9104.0%−37%

70Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%−45%

71Oxford, NCNC8,9854.1%−27%

72Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.2%−14%

73Wendell, NCNC19,6874.2%+1%

74Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1204.2%−31%

75Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%−34%

76Cramerton, NCNC5,7134.3%−44%

77Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.3%−36%

78New Bern, NCNC34,7244.3%−41%

79Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.3%−13%

80Concord, NCNC114,5984.4%−27%

81Kinston, NCNC19,7054.4%−15%

82High Point, NCNC120,5714.4%−32%

83Sanford, NCNC34,1384.5%−33%

84Cornelius, NCNC35,0944.5%−67%

85Gastonia, NCNC87,0674.6%−19%

86Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.6%+6%

87Marion, NCNC7,4404.6%+7%

88Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7314.6%−38%

89Pineville, NCNC11,8514.6%−27%

90Conover, NCNC8,9384.6%−13%

91Summerfield, NCNC11,3274.8%−62%

92Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1654.8%−16%

93Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.9%+44%

94Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.0%+36%

95Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%+1%

96Clinton, NCNC8,4665.1%−10%

97Lillington, NCNC5,0405.2%+31%

98Huntersville, NCNC68,5355.2%−57%

99Burlington, NCNC61,4965.2%−14%

100Laurinburg, NCNC14,5825.2%−33%

101Goldsboro, NCNC35,0125.2%−18%

102Garner, NCNC41,5625.3%−20%

103Wilson, NCNC49,5725.4%+4%

104Statesville, NCNC32,1815.5%+3%

105Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.5%−7%

106Clayton, NCNC32,6335.5%−6%

107Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.6%+2%

108Rockingham, NCNC8,8155.7%+17%

109Shelby, NCNC23,3095.7%−7%

110Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.9%−24%

111Hickory, NCNC45,9756.0%−31%

112Wilmington, NCNC126,8096.1%−28%

113Lewisville, NCNC14,4216.1%−52%

114Ogden, NCNC8,2496.2%−47%

115Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.2%+4%

116Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.4%−30%

117Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%−0%

118Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%+1%

119Morganton, NCNC17,8496.7%−9%

120Knightdale, NCNC23,1446.8%−14%

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.9%−21%

122Hillsborough, NCNC9,7787.1%−40%

123Charlotte, NCNC964,7847.3%−30%

124Wake Forest, NCNC58,1477.4%−31%

125Matthews, NCNC32,7697.5%−40%

126Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.6%+3%

127Asheville, NCNC93,5238.0%−26%

128Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.2%−34%

129Morrisville, NCNC32,4668.2%−58%

130Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%+2%

131Brevard, NCNC8,0988.5%−18%

132Surf City, NCNC5,1429.0%+3%

133Apex, NCNC80,4199.2%−46%

134Greensboro, NCNC308,6679.3%−14%

135Hendersonville, NCNC15,8679.4%−19%

136Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2719.5%−14%

137Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50510.1%−41%

138Weddington, NCNC14,51710.3%−15%

139Black Mountain, NCNC8,49111.5%+11%

140Pinehurst, NCNC18,67012.0%−31%

141Raleigh, NCNC506,30612.9%−11%

142Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%+0%

143Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.5%+0%

144Greenville, NCNC96,44314.5%+1%

145Durham, NCNC305,56115.8%−14%

146Cary, NCNC183,58216.3%−29%

147Boone, NCNC19,92920.2%−13%

148Davidson, NCNC16,66223.0%−10%

149Cullowhee, NCNC7,97324.8%−14%

150Carrboro, NCNC20,96224.9%−19%

151Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56538.7%−5%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES