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 (2023 ACS). This list covers the 161 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.4%+0%

02Dallas, NCNC6,3921.4%+0%

03East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.5%+0%

04Siler City, NCNC8,1552.0%+0%

05Selma, NCNC7,4062.2%+0%

06Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.3%+0%

07Bessemer City, NCNC5,8342.4%+0%

08Leland, NCNC35,7312.4%+0%

09Stallings, NCNC17,7602.5%+0%

10Angier, NCNC9,4102.6%+0%

11Archdale, NCNC12,2542.6%+0%

12Mount Holly, NCNC19,0332.7%+0%

13Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.8%+0%

14Trinity, NCNC7,2742.8%+0%

15Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.8%+0%

16Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.9%+0%

17Swannanoa, NCNC6,9012.9%+0%

18Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.9%+0%

19Cherryville, NCNC6,5232.9%+0%

20Sawmills, NCNC5,1053.0%+0%

21St. Stephens, NCNC9,4573.1%+0%

22Long View, NCNC5,3873.1%+0%

23Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2873.2%+0%

24Butner, NCNC8,1123.2%+0%

25Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.3%+0%

26Woodfin, NCNC8,2293.3%+0%

27Hamlet, NCNC5,8703.3%+0%

28Forest City, NCNC7,4103.3%+0%

29Havelock, NCNC17,4303.4%+0%

30Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.4%+0%

31Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.4%+0%

32Eden, NCNC15,5003.5%+0%

33Locust, NCNC6,1203.6%+0%

34Unionville, NCNC7,3223.6%+0%

35Mocksville, NCNC6,2823.7%+0%

36Graham, NCNC20,1313.7%+0%

37Zebulon, NCNC11,9333.8%+0%

38Newton, NCNC13,8223.8%+0%

39Lillington, NCNC5,0403.9%+0%

40Murraysville, NCNC16,3394.0%+0%

41Lenoir, NCNC18,3724.0%+0%

42Winterville, NCNC10,9734.1%+0%

43Dunn, NCNC8,8144.1%+0%

44Wendell, NCNC19,6874.1%+0%

45Lexington, NCNC20,2384.2%+0%

46Marion, NCNC7,4404.3%+0%

47Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.3%+0%

48Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3864.4%+0%

49Piney Green, NCNC14,0784.5%+0%

50Ayden, NCNC5,2634.5%+0%

51Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.6%+0%

52Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.8%+0%

53Tarboro, NCNC10,9794.8%+0%

54Rockingham, NCNC8,8154.8%+0%

55Kings Grant, NCNC9,0034.9%+0%

56Henderson, NCNC15,0134.9%+0%

57Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%+0%

58Rolesville, NCNC12,8395.0%+0%

59Lincolnton, NCNC12,4655.0%+0%

60Half Moon, NCNC7,3785.1%+0%

61King, NCNC7,9775.1%+0%

62Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.1%+0%

63Mount Airy, NCNC10,6825.1%+0%

64Asheboro, NCNC27,9905.1%+0%

65Wilson, NCNC49,5725.1%+0%

66Kinston, NCNC19,7055.1%+0%

67Harrisburg, NCNC20,7425.1%+0%

68Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6225.2%+0%

69Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.3%+0%

70Statesville, NCNC32,1815.3%+0%

71Conover, NCNC8,9385.3%+0%

72Morehead City, NCNC10,4345.3%+0%

73Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.5%+0%

74Oxford, NCNC8,9855.6%+0%

75Williamston, NCNC5,0865.6%+0%

76Gastonia, NCNC87,0675.7%+0%

77Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4945.7%+0%

78Clinton, NCNC8,4665.7%+0%

79Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1655.7%+0%

80Nashville, NCNC5,9115.8%+0%

81Clayton, NCNC32,6335.9%+0%

82Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.9%+0%

83Concord, NCNC114,5985.9%+0%

84Creedmoor, NCNC5,0465.9%+0%

85Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.0%+0%

86Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1206.1%+0%

87Burlington, NCNC61,4966.1%+0%

88Mooresville, NCNC55,8426.1%+0%

89Mint Hill, NCNC29,4766.1%+0%

90Shelby, NCNC23,3096.1%+0%

91Pineville, NCNC11,8516.3%+0%

92Belmont, NCNC16,4156.3%+0%

93Etowah, NCNC7,9686.3%+0%

94Washington, NCNC9,9106.3%+0%

95Silver Lake, NCNC6,5636.4%+0%

96Goldsboro, NCNC35,0126.4%+0%

97Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%+0%

98Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%+0%

99High Point, NCNC120,5716.5%+0%

100Garner, NCNC41,5626.7%+0%

101Aberdeen, NCNC10,0666.7%+0%

102Oak Island, NCNC9,3376.7%+0%

103Sanford, NCNC34,1386.7%+0%

104Fletcher, NCNC8,3737.1%+0%

105Mebane, NCNC21,9527.2%+0%

106Kernersville, NCNC29,1287.3%+0%

107New Bern, NCNC34,7247.3%+0%

108Morganton, NCNC17,8497.3%+0%

109Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.4%+0%

110Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7317.4%+0%

111Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5367.4%+0%

112Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5407.6%+0%

113Cramerton, NCNC5,7137.7%+0%

114Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.8%+0%

115Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.8%+0%

116Gibsonville, NCNC9,8767.8%+0%

117Knightdale, NCNC23,1447.9%+0%

118Stokesdale, NCNC6,1338.2%+0%

119Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.2%+0%

120Wilmington, NCNC126,8098.5%+0%

121Hickory, NCNC45,9758.6%+0%

122Pittsboro, NCNC5,0548.7%+0%

123Surf City, NCNC5,1428.8%+0%

124Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6379.1%+0%

125Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56610.1%+0%

126Brevard, NCNC8,09810.3%+0%

127Black Mountain, NCNC8,49110.4%+0%

128Charlotte, NCNC964,78410.5%+0%

129Wake Forest, NCNC58,14710.7%+0%

130Greensboro, NCNC308,66710.8%+0%

131Asheville, NCNC93,52310.8%+0%

132Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27111.0%+0%

133Hendersonville, NCNC15,86711.7%+0%

134Ogden, NCNC8,24911.7%+0%

135Hillsborough, NCNC9,77811.9%+0%

136Weddington, NCNC14,51712.0%+0%

137Huntersville, NCNC68,53512.1%+0%

138Holly Springs, NCNC50,28812.2%+0%

139Southern Pines, NCNC17,35712.3%+0%

140Matthews, NCNC32,76912.5%+0%

141Summerfield, NCNC11,32712.6%+0%

142Lewisville, NCNC14,42112.8%+0%

143Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89612.8%+0%

144Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%+0%

145Cornelius, NCNC35,09413.8%+0%

146Greenville, NCNC96,44314.4%+0%

147Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.4%+0%

148Raleigh, NCNC506,30614.4%+0%

149Apex, NCNC80,41917.0%+0%

150Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50517.2%+0%

151Pinehurst, NCNC18,67017.4%+0%

152Durham, NCNC305,56118.3%+0%

153Morrisville, NCNC32,46619.4%+0%

154St. James, NCNC7,31822.2%+0%

155Cary, NCNC183,58223.0%+0%

156Boone, NCNC19,92923.3%+0%

157Marvin, NCNC7,04024.1%+0%

158Davidson, NCNC16,66225.5%+0%

159Cullowhee, NCNC7,97328.7%+0%

160Carrboro, NCNC20,96230.6%+0%

161Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56540.5%+0%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

Download CSV (full list, 161 rows)

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