RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Fewest graduate degrees, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). This list covers the 174 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

01Wadesboro, NCNC5,0350.9%−81%

02Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.6%−22%

03Dallas, NCNC6,3922.6%+90%

04Long View, NCNC5,3872.9%−9%

05Lillington, NCNC5,0403.0%−24%

06Half Moon, NCNC7,3783.2%−36%

07Roxboro, NCNC8,3803.7%+32%

08Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.7%+8%

09Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%−6%

10Marion, NCNC7,4403.8%−10%

11Havelock, NCNC17,4303.9%+15%

12Sawmills, NCNC5,1054.0%+33%

13St. Stephens, NCNC9,4574.0%+30%

14Unionville, NCNC7,3224.1%+12%

15Northchase, NCNC5,8964.2%–

16Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%−35%

17Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.3%+80%

18Henderson, NCNC15,0134.4%−9%

19Rockingham, NCNC8,8154.4%−8%

20Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.5%+56%

21Albemarle, NCNC17,7694.5%−11%

22Monroe, NCNC42,6444.6%−8%

23Newton, NCNC13,8224.6%+21%

24Locust, NCNC6,1204.7%+30%

25Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2874.8%+50%

26Midway, NCNC5,1044.8%–

27Graham, NCNC20,1314.8%+29%

28Cherryville, NCNC6,5234.8%+65%

29Asheboro, NCNC27,9904.9%−4%

30Siler City, NCNC8,1554.9%+148%

31Lincolnton, NCNC12,4655.1%+1%

32Kinston, NCNC19,7055.1%−1%

33Swannanoa, NCNC6,9015.3%+84%

34Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1175.3%+85%

35Butner, NCNC8,1125.3%+65%

36Reidsville, NCNC14,6925.3%+10%

37Lexington, NCNC20,2385.4%+27%

38Oxford, NCNC8,9855.6%+1%

39Selma, NCNC7,4065.7%+156%

40Dunn, NCNC8,8145.7%+38%

41Conover, NCNC8,9385.8%+9%

42Eden, NCNC15,5005.8%+67%

43Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.9%+61%

44Sanford, NCNC34,1386.0%−12%

45Fletcher, NCNC8,3736.0%−15%

46Trinity, NCNC7,2746.0%+116%

47Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6496.1%–

48Piney Green, NCNC14,0786.2%+38%

49Forest City, NCNC7,4106.2%+85%

50Zebulon, NCNC11,9336.7%+76%

51Williamston, NCNC5,0866.8%+21%

52Goldsboro, NCNC35,0126.8%+7%

53King, NCNC7,9776.9%+36%

54Walkertown, NCNC6,1206.9%+110%

55Burlington, NCNC61,4967.1%+17%

56Hope Mills, NCNC18,3247.2%+110%

57Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.3%+23%

58Wilson, NCNC49,5727.3%+43%

59Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1207.4%+22%

60Ayden, NCNC5,2637.8%+73%

61Angier, NCNC9,4107.8%+199%

62Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.9%+1%

63Tarboro, NCNC10,9797.9%+64%

64Washington, NCNC9,9108.0%+25%

65Statesville, NCNC32,1818.0%+50%

66Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3868.0%+81%

67Salisbury, NCNC36,8798.0%+24%

68Kannapolis, NCNC61,7088.1%+194%

69Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.3%+269%

70Archdale, NCNC12,2548.4%+217%

71Gastonia, NCNC87,0678.4%+49%

72Clinton, NCNC8,4668.5%+48%

73Jacksonville, NCNC72,7328.7%+57%

74Kings Grant, NCNC9,0038.7%+78%

75Morganton, NCNC17,8498.8%+20%

76Shelby, NCNC23,3098.9%+46%

77Lumberton, NCNC18,9559.2%+18%

78Fayetteville, NCNC209,1209.3%+13%

79Mount Airy, NCNC10,6829.4%+84%

80Shallotte, NCNC5,3359.4%+28%

81Nashville, NCNC5,9119.5%+63%

82Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1659.6%+68%

83Etowah, NCNC7,9689.8%+54%

84Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62210.0%+92%

85East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32310.2%+596%

86Kernersville, NCNC29,12810.2%+40%

87Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56610.5%+3%

88High Point, NCNC120,57110.6%+63%

89Aberdeen, NCNC10,06610.8%+61%

90Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54010.9%+44%

91Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73111.2%+52%

92Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90611.3%–

93Moyock, NCNC5,68411.4%–

94Stokesdale, NCNC6,13311.4%+39%

95Morehead City, NCNC10,43411.5%+115%

96Mount Holly, NCNC19,03311.5%+330%

97Murraysville, NCNC16,33911.6%+193%

98Pineville, NCNC11,85111.7%+86%

99Creedmoor, NCNC5,04611.7%+97%

100Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92711.8%–

101Mint Hill, NCNC29,47611.8%+94%

102New Bern, NCNC34,72411.8%+61%

103Wendell, NCNC19,68711.9%+188%

104Waynesville, NCNC11,00611.9%+98%

105Mebane, NCNC21,95212.0%+67%

106Midland, NCNC5,15112.2%–

107Hickory, NCNC45,97512.3%+43%

108Lewisville, NCNC14,42112.6%−2%

109Clayton, NCNC32,63312.7%+115%

110Cramerton, NCNC5,71312.7%+65%

111Leland, NCNC35,73112.7%+423%

112Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53612.9%+73%

113Woodfin, NCNC8,22913.2%+301%

114Brevard, NCNC8,09813.2%+28%

115Indian Trail, NCNC44,30313.3%+153%

116Mooresville, NCNC55,84213.4%+120%

117Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90813.6%+884%

118Mills River, NCNC7,50413.9%–

119Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27114.0%+27%

120Oak Island, NCNC9,33714.2%+112%

121Concord, NCNC114,59814.5%+144%

122Belmont, NCNC16,41514.8%+133%

123Hendersonville, NCNC15,86714.9%+27%

124Greensboro, NCNC308,66714.9%+39%

125Greenville, NCNC96,44315.0%+4%

126Ogden, NCNC8,24915.1%+29%

127Matthews, NCNC32,76915.2%+22%

128Stallings, NCNC17,76015.3%+522%

129Knightdale, NCNC23,14415.3%+93%

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80915.3%+81%

131Hampstead, NCNC9,29215.4%–

132Surf City, NCNC5,14215.5%+76%

133Charlotte, NCNC964,78415.5%+49%

134Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63715.8%+74%

135Harrisburg, NCNC20,74215.9%+208%

136Cornelius, NCNC35,09416.1%+16%

137Gibsonville, NCNC9,87616.4%+111%

138Garner, NCNC41,56216.5%+146%

139Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87016.6%+157%

140Westport, NCNC5,91517.3%+34%

141Clemmons, NCNC22,80818.0%+25%

142Winterville, NCNC10,97318.4%+351%

143Huntersville, NCNC68,53518.6%+54%

144Raleigh, NCNC506,30618.8%+30%

145Pittsboro, NCNC5,05418.8%+116%

146Wake Forest, NCNC58,14719.0%+77%

147Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49419.0%+232%

148Spout Springs, NCNC11,24219.1%–

149Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89619.1%+49%

150Waxhaw, NCNC23,14019.3%+347%

151Summerfield, NCNC11,32719.9%+59%

152Asheville, NCNC93,52320.2%+87%

153Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50520.6%+19%

154Holly Springs, NCNC50,28821.7%+77%

155Weddington, NCNC14,51721.8%+81%

156Black Mountain, NCNC8,49122.7%+119%

157Cullowhee, NCNC7,97323.0%−20%

158Southern Pines, NCNC17,35723.4%+90%

159Elon, NCNC11,36623.9%–

160Pinehurst, NCNC18,67023.9%+38%

161Durham, NCNC305,56124.5%+34%

162Hillsborough, NCNC9,77824.6%+107%

163Boone, NCNC19,92924.7%+6%

164Apex, NCNC80,41925.1%+48%

165Rolesville, NCNC12,83925.6%+413%

166St. James, NCNC7,31827.7%+25%

167Davidson, NCNC16,66230.2%+18%

168Morrisville, NCNC32,46630.3%+56%

169Porters Neck, NCNC7,65430.6%–

170Cary, NCNC183,58230.6%+33%

171Marvin, NCNC7,04034.7%+44%

172Carrboro, NCNC20,96242.7%+39%

173Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04942.8%–

174Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56548.8%+21%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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