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 (1990 ACS). This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 151 is 4.3%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS –

01Leland, NCNC35,7310.3%–

02Sawmills, NCNC5,1050.9%–

03Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2871.0%–

04Trinity, NCNC7,2741.2%–

05Locust, NCNC6,1201.3%–

06East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.4%–

07Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.5%–

08Piney Green, NCNC14,0781.5%–

09Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331.5%–

10Woodfin, NCNC8,2291.6%–

11Holly Springs, NCNC50,2881.7%–

12Stallings, NCNC17,7601.7%–

13Long View, NCNC5,3871.8%–

14Butner, NCNC8,1121.9%–

15St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.9%–

16Bessemer City, NCNC5,8341.9%–

17Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032.0%–

18Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.1%–

19Siler City, NCNC8,1552.1%–

20Angier, NCNC9,4102.2%–

21Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.2%–

22Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.3%–

23Mebane, NCNC21,9522.4%–

24Forest City, NCNC7,4102.4%–

25Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.4%–

26Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.5%–

27Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.5%–

28Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.5%–

29King, NCNC7,9772.5%–

30Half Moon, NCNC7,3782.6%–

31Graham, NCNC20,1312.8%–

32Eden, NCNC15,5002.8%–

33Zebulon, NCNC11,9332.9%–

34Henderson, NCNC15,0132.9%–

35Newton, NCNC13,8223.0%–

36Havelock, NCNC17,4303.0%–

37Mount Airy, NCNC10,6823.0%–

38Archdale, NCNC12,2543.0%–

39Albemarle, NCNC17,7693.1%–

40Lexington, NCNC20,2383.1%–

41Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.2%–

42Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.2%–

43Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%–

44Dallas, NCNC6,3923.2%–

45Stokesdale, NCNC6,1333.3%–

46Williamston, NCNC5,0863.3%–

47Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.3%–

48Ayden, NCNC5,2633.4%–

49Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.4%–

50Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.4%–

51Winterville, NCNC10,9733.6%–

52Tarboro, NCNC10,9793.6%–

53Asheboro, NCNC27,9903.6%–

54Creedmoor, NCNC5,0463.6%–

55Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.6%–

56Nashville, NCNC5,9113.6%–

57Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3863.7%–

58Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.7%–

59Swannanoa, NCNC6,9013.8%–

60Etowah, NCNC7,9683.8%–

61Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.8%–

62Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%–

63Mint Hill, NCNC29,4763.9%–

64Belmont, NCNC16,4153.9%–

65Kernersville, NCNC29,1283.9%–

66Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.0%–

67Selma, NCNC7,4064.0%–

68Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6224.0%–

69Washington, NCNC9,9104.0%–

70Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%–

71Oxford, NCNC8,9854.1%–

72Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.2%–

73Wendell, NCNC19,6874.2%–

74Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1204.2%–

75Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%–

76Cramerton, NCNC5,7134.3%–

77Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.3%–

78New Bern, NCNC34,7244.3%–

79Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.3%–

80Concord, NCNC114,5984.4%–

81Kinston, NCNC19,7054.4%–

82High Point, NCNC120,5714.4%–

83Sanford, NCNC34,1384.5%–

84Cornelius, NCNC35,0944.5%–

85Gastonia, NCNC87,0674.6%–

86Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.6%–

87Marion, NCNC7,4404.6%–

88Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7314.6%–

89Pineville, NCNC11,8514.6%–

90Conover, NCNC8,9384.6%–

91Summerfield, NCNC11,3274.8%–

92Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1654.8%–

93Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.9%–

94Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.0%–

95Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%–

96Clinton, NCNC8,4665.1%–

97Lillington, NCNC5,0405.2%–

98Huntersville, NCNC68,5355.2%–

99Burlington, NCNC61,4965.2%–

100Laurinburg, NCNC14,5825.2%–

101Goldsboro, NCNC35,0125.2%–

102Garner, NCNC41,5625.3%–

103Wilson, NCNC49,5725.4%–

104Statesville, NCNC32,1815.5%–

105Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.5%–

106Clayton, NCNC32,6335.5%–

107Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.6%–

108Rockingham, NCNC8,8155.7%–

109Shelby, NCNC23,3095.7%–

110Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.9%–

111Hickory, NCNC45,9756.0%–

112Wilmington, NCNC126,8096.1%–

113Lewisville, NCNC14,4216.1%–

114Ogden, NCNC8,2496.2%–

115Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.2%–

116Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.4%–

117Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%–

118Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%–

119Morganton, NCNC17,8496.7%–

120Knightdale, NCNC23,1446.8%–

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.9%–

122Hillsborough, NCNC9,7787.1%–

123Charlotte, NCNC964,7847.3%–

124Wake Forest, NCNC58,1477.4%–

125Matthews, NCNC32,7697.5%–

126Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.6%–

127Asheville, NCNC93,5238.0%–

128Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.2%–

129Morrisville, NCNC32,4668.2%–

130Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%–

131Brevard, NCNC8,0988.5%–

132Surf City, NCNC5,1429.0%–

133Apex, NCNC80,4199.2%–

134Greensboro, NCNC308,6679.3%–

135Hendersonville, NCNC15,8679.4%–

136Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2719.5%–

137Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50510.1%–

138Weddington, NCNC14,51710.3%–

139Black Mountain, NCNC8,49111.5%–

140Pinehurst, NCNC18,67012.0%–

141Raleigh, NCNC506,30612.9%–

142Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%–

143Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.5%–

144Greenville, NCNC96,44314.5%–

145Durham, NCNC305,56115.8%–

146Cary, NCNC183,58216.3%–

147Boone, NCNC19,92920.2%–

148Davidson, NCNC16,66223.0%–

149Cullowhee, NCNC7,97324.8%–

150Carrboro, NCNC20,96224.9%–

151Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56538.7%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS