RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Least educated, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). This list covers the 175 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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Long View, NCNC5,3877.9%+15%

02Eden, NCNC15,50011.9%+7%

03Sawmills, NCNC5,10512.7%+61%

04Lexington, NCNC20,23812.9%−8%

05Selma, NCNC7,40613.8%+37%

06Roxboro, NCNC8,38014.1%+82%

07Williamston, NCNC5,08614.3%+7%

08Forest City, NCNC7,41014.7%+53%

09Thomasville, NCNC27,73315.3%+59%

10Henderson, NCNC15,01315.5%+6%

11Hamlet, NCNC5,87015.5%+36%

12Marion, NCNC7,44015.6%+3%

13Bessemer City, NCNC5,83416.1%+109%

14Nashville, NCNC5,91116.3%+7%

15Kinston, NCNC19,70516.4%−1%

16Siler City, NCNC8,15516.8%+102%

17Wadesboro, NCNC5,03516.9%+8%

18East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32317.3%+154%

19Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.8%+50%

20Havelock, NCNC17,43018.7%+23%

21Asheboro, NCNC27,99019.1%+13%

22Lumberton, NCNC18,95519.2%−6%

23Oxford, NCNC8,98519.2%+2%

24Lillington, NCNC5,04019.3%+45%

25Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.7%+29%

26Trinity, NCNC7,27420.1%+61%

27Laurinburg, NCNC14,58220.1%−8%

28Albemarle, NCNC17,76920.4%+18%

29Dunn, NCNC8,81420.9%+24%

30Newton, NCNC13,82221.0%+39%

31Goldsboro, NCNC35,01221.0%+22%

32Lenoir, NCNC18,37221.2%+59%

33Dallas, NCNC6,39221.2%+135%

34Sanford, NCNC34,13821.6%+16%

35Reidsville, NCNC14,69221.8%+40%

36Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38622.0%+47%

37Barbecue, NCNC5,91022.1%–

38Locust, NCNC6,12022.5%+117%

39Midway, NCNC5,10422.5%–

40King, NCNC7,97722.8%+26%

41Archdale, NCNC12,25422.9%+70%

42Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12022.9%+14%

43Ayden, NCNC5,26323.0%+70%

44Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+14%

45Shallotte, NCNC5,33523.1%−4%

46Hope Mills, NCNC18,32423.4%+56%

47Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87523.6%+56%

48Clinton, NCNC8,46623.8%+29%

49Conover, NCNC8,93823.8%+29%

50Washington, NCNC9,91024.0%+15%

51Lincolnton, NCNC12,46524.0%+37%

52Monroe, NCNC42,64424.1%+54%

53Piney Green, NCNC14,07824.2%+33%

54Wilson, NCNC49,57224.5%+28%

55Mocksville, NCNC6,28224.7%+34%

56Graham, NCNC20,13124.7%+48%

57Cherryville, NCNC6,52324.8%+96%

58Kings Grant, NCNC9,00325.2%+11%

59Spring Lake, NCNC11,25225.2%+195%

60St. Stephens, NCNC9,45725.7%+121%

61Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+57%

62Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28725.9%+100%

63Morganton, NCNC17,84926.1%+25%

64Jacksonville, NCNC72,73226.3%+47%

65Tarboro, NCNC10,97926.5%+56%

66Gastonia, NCNC87,06726.6%+31%

67Shelby, NCNC23,30926.6%+48%

68Smithfield, NCNC13,11426.7%+45%

69Statesville, NCNC32,18126.9%+38%

70Butner, NCNC8,11227.0%+178%

71Half Moon, NCNC7,37827.0%+69%

72Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62227.2%+56%

73Swannanoa, NCNC6,90127.4%+124%

74Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54027.6%+2%

75Creedmoor, NCNC5,04628.9%+36%

76Fayetteville, NCNC209,12029.0%+20%

77New Bern, NCNC34,72429.4%+28%

78Burlington, NCNC61,49629.6%+36%

79Kannapolis, NCNC61,70829.7%+148%

80Salisbury, NCNC36,87929.9%+24%

81Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16530.1%+42%

82Walkertown, NCNC6,12030.3%+148%

83Zebulon, NCNC11,93330.9%+97%

84Moyock, NCNC5,68431.6%–

85Aberdeen, NCNC10,06631.9%+49%

86Angier, NCNC9,41032.0%+117%

87Silver Lake, NCNC6,56332.2%+33%

88Midland, NCNC5,15132.9%–

89Waynesville, NCNC11,00632.9%+92%

90High Point, NCNC120,57134.0%+33%

91Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92735.0%–

92Northchase, NCNC5,89635.2%–

93Morehead City, NCNC10,43435.6%+71%

94Mount Holly, NCNC19,03336.7%+148%

95Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64936.9%–

96Kernersville, NCNC29,12837.0%+43%

97Hickory, NCNC45,97537.1%+32%

98Gibsonville, NCNC9,87637.1%+56%

99Hendersonville, NCNC15,86738.1%+25%

100Wendell, NCNC19,68738.2%+98%

101Cullowhee, NCNC7,97338.2%−21%

102Hampstead, NCNC9,29238.3%–

103Etowah, NCNC7,96839.0%+91%

104Greenville, NCNC96,44339.1%+2%

105Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27139.5%+30%

106Fletcher, NCNC8,37339.8%+46%

107Indian Trail, NCNC44,30340.2%+81%

108Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+46%

109Clayton, NCNC32,63340.4%+73%

110Mebane, NCNC21,95240.4%+43%

111Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.8%+81%

112Concord, NCNC114,59840.9%+79%

113Greensboro, NCNC308,66741.0%+21%

114Winterville, NCNC10,97341.2%+43%

115Spout Springs, NCNC11,24241.4%–

116Stokesdale, NCNC6,13343.2%+86%

117Brevard, NCNC8,09843.5%+65%

118Oak Island, NCNC9,33743.6%+129%

119Leland, NCNC35,73143.7%+213%

120Mills River, NCNC7,50443.7%–

121Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90644.0%–

122Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73144.8%+66%

123Pineville, NCNC11,85144.9%+46%

124Westport, NCNC5,91545.4%−5%

125Mooresville, NCNC55,84245.5%+99%

126Murraysville, NCNC16,33945.7%+57%

127Woodfin, NCNC8,22945.9%+202%

128Cramerton, NCNC5,71346.2%+79%

129Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63746.4%+58%

130Garner, NCNC41,56246.5%+65%

131Wilmington, NCNC126,80946.8%+51%

132Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56647.7%+55%

133Lewisville, NCNC14,42147.8%+20%

134Charlotte, NCNC964,78448.0%+32%

135Knightdale, NCNC23,14448.9%+45%

136Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.4%+17%

137Ogden, NCNC8,24949.5%+25%

138Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87050.5%+114%

139Belmont, NCNC16,41551.1%+132%

140Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90851.4%+622%

141Elon, NCNC11,36651.5%–

142Surf City, NCNC5,14251.6%+80%

143Southern Pines, NCNC17,35752.9%+47%

144Asheville, NCNC93,52353.4%+76%

145Stallings, NCNC17,76053.7%+207%

146Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53654.0%+99%

147Raleigh, NCNC506,30654.0%+20%

148Waxhaw, NCNC23,14055.0%+84%

149Matthews, NCNC32,76955.2%+31%

150Black Mountain, NCNC8,49156.3%+92%

151Harrisburg, NCNC20,74256.5%+106%

152Boone, NCNC19,92956.8%+22%

153Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89657.0%+42%

154Durham, NCNC305,56157.3%+37%

155Huntersville, NCNC68,53557.5%+24%

156Summerfield, NCNC11,32759.5%+57%

157Wake Forest, NCNC58,14759.5%+38%

158Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.9%+22%

159Hillsborough, NCNC9,77861.4%+145%

160Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.1%+196%

161Cornelius, NCNC35,09462.2%+26%

162Porters Neck, NCNC7,65466.5%–

163Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50567.0%+37%

164Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49467.2%+193%

165Holly Springs, NCNC50,28867.3%+33%

166Weddington, NCNC14,51768.0%+47%

167St. James, NCNC7,31868.3%+22%

168Apex, NCNC80,41969.5%+18%

169Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.9%+15%

170Cary, NCNC183,58270.5%+16%

171Morrisville, NCNC32,46672.7%+31%

172Davidson, NCNC16,66275.8%+23%

173Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.6%+4%

174Marvin, NCNC7,04079.9%+32%

175Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04981.6%–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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