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 (2020 ACS). This list covers the 174 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

01Wadesboro, NCNC5,0350.9%−3.8 pts

02Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.6%−0.7 pts

03Dallas, NCNC6,3922.6%+1.3 pts

04Long View, NCNC5,3872.9%−0.3 pts

05Lillington, NCNC5,0403.0%−0.9 pts

06Half Moon, NCNC7,3783.2%−1.8 pts

07Roxboro, NCNC8,3803.7%+0.9 pts

08Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.7%+0.3 pts

09Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%−0.2 pts

10Marion, NCNC7,4403.8%−0.4 pts

11Havelock, NCNC17,4303.9%+0.5 pts

12Sawmills, NCNC5,1054.0%+1.0 pts

13St. Stephens, NCNC9,4574.0%+0.9 pts

14Unionville, NCNC7,3224.1%+0.4 pts

15Northchase, NCNC5,8964.2%–

16Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%−2.2 pts

17Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.3%+1.9 pts

18Henderson, NCNC15,0134.4%−0.5 pts

19Rockingham, NCNC8,8154.4%−0.4 pts

20Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.5%+1.6 pts

21Albemarle, NCNC17,7694.5%−0.6 pts

22Monroe, NCNC42,6444.6%−0.4 pts

23Newton, NCNC13,8224.6%+0.8 pts

24Locust, NCNC6,1204.7%+1.1 pts

25Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2874.8%+1.6 pts

26Midway, NCNC5,1044.8%–

27Graham, NCNC20,1314.8%+1.1 pts

28Cherryville, NCNC6,5234.8%+1.9 pts

29Asheboro, NCNC27,9904.9%−0.2 pts

30Siler City, NCNC8,1554.9%+2.9 pts

31Lincolnton, NCNC12,4655.1%+0.1 pts

32Kinston, NCNC19,7055.1%−0.0 pts

33Swannanoa, NCNC6,9015.3%+2.4 pts

34Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1175.3%+2.4 pts

35Butner, NCNC8,1125.3%+2.1 pts

36Reidsville, NCNC14,6925.3%+0.5 pts

37Lexington, NCNC20,2385.4%+1.1 pts

38Oxford, NCNC8,9855.6%+0.1 pts

39Selma, NCNC7,4065.7%+3.4 pts

40Dunn, NCNC8,8145.7%+1.6 pts

41Conover, NCNC8,9385.8%+0.5 pts

42Eden, NCNC15,5005.8%+2.3 pts

43Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.9%+2.2 pts

44Sanford, NCNC34,1386.0%−0.8 pts

45Fletcher, NCNC8,3736.0%−1.0 pts

46Trinity, NCNC7,2746.0%+3.2 pts

47Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6496.1%–

48Piney Green, NCNC14,0786.2%+1.7 pts

49Forest City, NCNC7,4106.2%+2.8 pts

50Zebulon, NCNC11,9336.7%+2.9 pts

51Williamston, NCNC5,0866.8%+1.2 pts

52Goldsboro, NCNC35,0126.8%+0.4 pts

53King, NCNC7,9776.9%+1.8 pts

54Walkertown, NCNC6,1206.9%+3.6 pts

55Burlington, NCNC61,4967.1%+1.0 pts

56Hope Mills, NCNC18,3247.2%+3.8 pts

57Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.3%+1.4 pts

58Wilson, NCNC49,5727.3%+2.2 pts

59Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1207.4%+1.3 pts

60Ayden, NCNC5,2637.8%+3.3 pts

61Angier, NCNC9,4107.8%+5.2 pts

62Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.9%+0.1 pts

63Tarboro, NCNC10,9797.9%+3.1 pts

64Washington, NCNC9,9108.0%+1.6 pts

65Statesville, NCNC32,1818.0%+2.7 pts

66Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3868.0%+3.6 pts

67Salisbury, NCNC36,8798.0%+1.5 pts

68Kannapolis, NCNC61,7088.1%+5.4 pts

69Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.3%+6.1 pts

70Archdale, NCNC12,2548.4%+5.7 pts

71Gastonia, NCNC87,0678.4%+2.8 pts

72Clinton, NCNC8,4668.5%+2.7 pts

73Jacksonville, NCNC72,7328.7%+3.2 pts

74Kings Grant, NCNC9,0038.7%+3.8 pts

75Morganton, NCNC17,8498.8%+1.5 pts

76Shelby, NCNC23,3098.9%+2.8 pts

77Lumberton, NCNC18,9559.2%+1.4 pts

78Fayetteville, NCNC209,1209.3%+1.1 pts

79Mount Airy, NCNC10,6829.4%+4.3 pts

80Shallotte, NCNC5,3359.4%+2.0 pts

81Nashville, NCNC5,9119.5%+3.7 pts

82Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1659.6%+3.9 pts

83Etowah, NCNC7,9689.8%+3.4 pts

84Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62210.0%+4.8 pts

85East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32310.2%+8.7 pts

86Kernersville, NCNC29,12810.2%+2.9 pts

87Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56610.5%+0.3 pts

88High Point, NCNC120,57110.6%+4.1 pts

89Aberdeen, NCNC10,06610.8%+4.1 pts

90Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54010.9%+3.3 pts

91Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73111.2%+3.8 pts

92Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90611.3%–

93Moyock, NCNC5,68411.4%–

94Stokesdale, NCNC6,13311.4%+3.2 pts

95Morehead City, NCNC10,43411.5%+6.1 pts

96Mount Holly, NCNC19,03311.5%+8.8 pts

97Murraysville, NCNC16,33911.6%+7.7 pts

98Pineville, NCNC11,85111.7%+5.4 pts

99Creedmoor, NCNC5,04611.7%+5.8 pts

100Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92711.8%–

101Mint Hill, NCNC29,47611.8%+5.7 pts

102New Bern, NCNC34,72411.8%+4.5 pts

103Wendell, NCNC19,68711.9%+7.8 pts

104Waynesville, NCNC11,00611.9%+5.9 pts

105Mebane, NCNC21,95212.0%+4.8 pts

106Midland, NCNC5,15112.2%–

107Hickory, NCNC45,97512.3%+3.7 pts

108Lewisville, NCNC14,42112.6%−0.2 pts

109Clayton, NCNC32,63312.7%+6.8 pts

110Cramerton, NCNC5,71312.7%+5.0 pts

111Leland, NCNC35,73112.7%+10.3 pts

112Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53612.9%+5.4 pts

113Woodfin, NCNC8,22913.2%+9.9 pts

114Brevard, NCNC8,09813.2%+2.9 pts

115Indian Trail, NCNC44,30313.3%+8.1 pts

116Mooresville, NCNC55,84213.4%+7.3 pts

117Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90813.6%+12.3 pts

118Mills River, NCNC7,50413.9%–

119Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27114.0%+3.0 pts

120Oak Island, NCNC9,33714.2%+7.5 pts

121Concord, NCNC114,59814.5%+8.5 pts

122Belmont, NCNC16,41514.8%+8.4 pts

123Hendersonville, NCNC15,86714.9%+3.2 pts

124Greensboro, NCNC308,66714.9%+4.2 pts

125Greenville, NCNC96,44315.0%+0.6 pts

126Ogden, NCNC8,24915.1%+3.4 pts

127Matthews, NCNC32,76915.2%+2.8 pts

128Stallings, NCNC17,76015.3%+12.8 pts

129Knightdale, NCNC23,14415.3%+7.4 pts

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80915.3%+6.9 pts

131Hampstead, NCNC9,29215.4%–

132Surf City, NCNC5,14215.5%+6.7 pts

133Charlotte, NCNC964,78415.5%+5.1 pts

134Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63715.8%+6.8 pts

135Harrisburg, NCNC20,74215.9%+10.7 pts

136Cornelius, NCNC35,09416.1%+2.3 pts

137Gibsonville, NCNC9,87616.4%+8.6 pts

138Garner, NCNC41,56216.5%+9.8 pts

139Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87016.6%+10.1 pts

140Westport, NCNC5,91517.3%+4.4 pts

141Clemmons, NCNC22,80818.0%+3.6 pts

142Winterville, NCNC10,97318.4%+14.3 pts

143Huntersville, NCNC68,53518.6%+6.5 pts

144Raleigh, NCNC506,30618.8%+4.4 pts

145Pittsboro, NCNC5,05418.8%+10.1 pts

146Wake Forest, NCNC58,14719.0%+8.2 pts

147Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49419.0%+13.3 pts

148Spout Springs, NCNC11,24219.1%–

149Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89619.1%+6.3 pts

150Waxhaw, NCNC23,14019.3%+15.0 pts

151Summerfield, NCNC11,32719.9%+7.4 pts

152Asheville, NCNC93,52320.2%+9.4 pts

153Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50520.6%+3.3 pts

154Holly Springs, NCNC50,28821.7%+9.4 pts

155Weddington, NCNC14,51721.8%+9.8 pts

156Black Mountain, NCNC8,49122.7%+12.3 pts

157Cullowhee, NCNC7,97323.0%−5.8 pts

158Southern Pines, NCNC17,35723.4%+11.1 pts

159Elon, NCNC11,36623.9%–

160Pinehurst, NCNC18,67023.9%+6.6 pts

161Durham, NCNC305,56124.5%+6.2 pts

162Hillsborough, NCNC9,77824.6%+12.7 pts

163Boone, NCNC19,92924.7%+1.4 pts

164Apex, NCNC80,41925.1%+8.1 pts

165Rolesville, NCNC12,83925.6%+20.6 pts

166St. James, NCNC7,31827.7%+5.6 pts

167Davidson, NCNC16,66230.2%+4.7 pts

168Morrisville, NCNC32,46630.3%+10.9 pts

169Porters Neck, NCNC7,65430.6%–

170Cary, NCNC183,58230.6%+7.7 pts

171Marvin, NCNC7,04034.7%+10.6 pts

172Carrboro, NCNC20,96242.7%+12.0 pts

173Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04942.8%–

174Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56548.8%+8.3 pts

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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