RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Fewest graduate degrees, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2000 ACS). This list covers the 161 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 1990

01Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.4%−0.1 pts

02Dallas, NCNC6,3921.4%−1.8 pts

03East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.5%+0.1 pts

04Siler City, NCNC8,1552.0%−0.2 pts

05Selma, NCNC7,4062.2%−1.7 pts

06Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.3%+0.2 pts

07Bessemer City, NCNC5,8342.4%+0.4 pts

08Leland, NCNC35,7312.4%+2.2 pts

09Stallings, NCNC17,7602.5%+0.7 pts

10Angier, NCNC9,4102.6%+0.4 pts

11Archdale, NCNC12,2542.6%−0.4 pts

12Mount Holly, NCNC19,0332.7%+1.2 pts

13Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.8%+0.4 pts

14Trinity, NCNC7,2742.8%+1.6 pts

15Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.8%+0.6 pts

16Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.9%+0.4 pts

17Swannanoa, NCNC6,9012.9%−0.9 pts

18Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.9%+0.3 pts

19Cherryville, NCNC6,5232.9%−0.3 pts

20Sawmills, NCNC5,1053.0%+2.1 pts

21St. Stephens, NCNC9,4573.1%+1.1 pts

22Long View, NCNC5,3873.1%+1.4 pts

23Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2873.2%+2.2 pts

24Butner, NCNC8,1123.2%+1.3 pts

25Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.3%−0.1 pts

26Woodfin, NCNC8,2293.3%+1.7 pts

27Hamlet, NCNC5,8703.3%+0.8 pts

28Forest City, NCNC7,4103.3%+0.9 pts

29Havelock, NCNC17,4303.4%+0.4 pts

30Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.4%−1.5 pts

31Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.4%+0.1 pts

32Eden, NCNC15,5003.5%+0.7 pts

33Locust, NCNC6,1203.6%+2.3 pts

34Unionville, NCNC7,3223.6%–

35Mocksville, NCNC6,2823.7%−1.3 pts

36Graham, NCNC20,1313.7%+1.0 pts

37Zebulon, NCNC11,9333.8%+0.9 pts

38Newton, NCNC13,8223.8%+0.9 pts

39Lillington, NCNC5,0403.9%−1.2 pts

40Murraysville, NCNC16,3394.0%–

41Lenoir, NCNC18,3724.0%+0.2 pts

42Winterville, NCNC10,9734.1%+0.5 pts

43Dunn, NCNC8,8144.1%+0.9 pts

44Wendell, NCNC19,6874.1%−0.0 pts

45Lexington, NCNC20,2384.2%+1.1 pts

46Marion, NCNC7,4404.3%−0.3 pts

47Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.3%−0.2 pts

48Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3864.4%+0.7 pts

49Piney Green, NCNC14,0784.5%+3.0 pts

50Ayden, NCNC5,2634.5%+1.1 pts

51Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.6%+0.7 pts

52Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.8%+0.7 pts

53Tarboro, NCNC10,9794.8%+1.3 pts

54Rockingham, NCNC8,8154.8%−0.8 pts

55Kings Grant, NCNC9,0034.9%–

56Henderson, NCNC15,0134.9%+2.0 pts

57Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%−0.0 pts

58Rolesville, NCNC12,8395.0%+0.7 pts

59Lincolnton, NCNC12,4655.0%+1.3 pts

60Half Moon, NCNC7,3785.1%+2.5 pts

61King, NCNC7,9775.1%+2.5 pts

62Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.1%+2.0 pts

63Mount Airy, NCNC10,6825.1%+2.1 pts

64Asheboro, NCNC27,9905.1%+1.5 pts

65Wilson, NCNC49,5725.1%−0.2 pts

66Kinston, NCNC19,7055.1%+0.8 pts

67Harrisburg, NCNC20,7425.1%+1.4 pts

68Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6225.2%+1.2 pts

69Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.3%+3.3 pts

70Statesville, NCNC32,1815.3%−0.2 pts

71Conover, NCNC8,9385.3%+0.7 pts

72Morehead City, NCNC10,4345.3%+2.1 pts

73Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.5%−0.1 pts

74Oxford, NCNC8,9855.6%+1.5 pts

75Williamston, NCNC5,0865.6%+2.3 pts

76Gastonia, NCNC87,0675.7%+1.1 pts

77Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4945.7%–

78Clinton, NCNC8,4665.7%+0.6 pts

79Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1655.7%+0.9 pts

80Nashville, NCNC5,9115.8%+2.2 pts

81Clayton, NCNC32,6335.9%+0.4 pts

82Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.9%+0.4 pts

83Concord, NCNC114,5985.9%+1.6 pts

84Creedmoor, NCNC5,0465.9%+2.3 pts

85Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.0%−0.2 pts

86Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1206.1%+1.9 pts

87Burlington, NCNC61,4966.1%+0.9 pts

88Mooresville, NCNC55,8426.1%+2.7 pts

89Mint Hill, NCNC29,4766.1%+2.2 pts

90Shelby, NCNC23,3096.1%+0.5 pts

91Pineville, NCNC11,8516.3%+1.7 pts

92Belmont, NCNC16,4156.3%+2.4 pts

93Etowah, NCNC7,9686.3%+2.6 pts

94Washington, NCNC9,9106.3%+2.3 pts

95Silver Lake, NCNC6,5636.4%+2.2 pts

96Goldsboro, NCNC35,0126.4%+1.2 pts

97Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%−0.1 pts

98Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%+0.0 pts

99High Point, NCNC120,5716.5%+2.1 pts

100Garner, NCNC41,5626.7%+1.4 pts

101Aberdeen, NCNC10,0666.7%+2.4 pts

102Oak Island, NCNC9,3376.7%–

103Sanford, NCNC34,1386.7%+2.2 pts

104Fletcher, NCNC8,3737.1%+3.4 pts

105Mebane, NCNC21,9527.2%+4.8 pts

106Kernersville, NCNC29,1287.3%+3.4 pts

107New Bern, NCNC34,7247.3%+3.0 pts

108Morganton, NCNC17,8497.3%+0.7 pts

109Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.4%−0.2 pts

110Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7317.4%+2.8 pts

111Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5367.4%+3.4 pts

112Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5407.6%–

113Cramerton, NCNC5,7137.7%+3.4 pts

114Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.8%+2.5 pts

115Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.8%+1.9 pts

116Gibsonville, NCNC9,8767.8%+5.5 pts

117Knightdale, NCNC23,1447.9%+1.1 pts

118Stokesdale, NCNC6,1338.2%+4.9 pts

119Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.2%−0.1 pts

120Wilmington, NCNC126,8098.5%+2.4 pts

121Hickory, NCNC45,9758.6%+2.7 pts

122Pittsboro, NCNC5,0548.7%+1.8 pts

123Surf City, NCNC5,1428.8%−0.3 pts

124Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6379.1%+2.7 pts

125Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56610.1%–

126Brevard, NCNC8,09810.3%+1.8 pts

127Black Mountain, NCNC8,49110.4%−1.1 pts

128Charlotte, NCNC964,78410.5%+3.2 pts

129Wake Forest, NCNC58,14710.7%+3.3 pts

130Greensboro, NCNC308,66710.8%+1.5 pts

131Asheville, NCNC93,52310.8%+2.8 pts

132Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27111.0%+1.5 pts

133Hendersonville, NCNC15,86711.7%+2.2 pts

134Ogden, NCNC8,24911.7%+5.5 pts

135Hillsborough, NCNC9,77811.9%+4.7 pts

136Weddington, NCNC14,51712.0%+1.7 pts

137Huntersville, NCNC68,53512.1%+6.9 pts

138Holly Springs, NCNC50,28812.2%+10.5 pts

139Southern Pines, NCNC17,35712.3%+4.1 pts

140Matthews, NCNC32,76912.5%+4.9 pts

141Summerfield, NCNC11,32712.6%+7.8 pts

142Lewisville, NCNC14,42112.8%+6.7 pts

143Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89612.8%–

144Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%−0.0 pts

145Cornelius, NCNC35,09413.8%+9.3 pts

146Greenville, NCNC96,44314.4%−0.1 pts

147Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.4%−0.1 pts

148Raleigh, NCNC506,30614.4%+1.6 pts

149Apex, NCNC80,41917.0%+7.8 pts

150Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50517.2%+7.1 pts

151Pinehurst, NCNC18,67017.4%+5.3 pts

152Durham, NCNC305,56118.3%+2.6 pts

153Morrisville, NCNC32,46619.4%+11.1 pts

154St. James, NCNC7,31822.2%–

155Cary, NCNC183,58223.0%+6.7 pts

156Boone, NCNC19,92923.3%+3.1 pts

157Marvin, NCNC7,04024.1%–

158Davidson, NCNC16,66225.5%+2.5 pts

159Cullowhee, NCNC7,97328.7%+4.0 pts

160Carrboro, NCNC20,96230.6%+5.7 pts

161Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56540.5%+1.8 pts

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS