RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Least educated, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 151 is 15.3%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

01Leland, NCNC35,7312.5%–

02Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.9%–

03Sawmills, NCNC5,1053.8%–

04Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.9%–

05Locust, NCNC6,1205.6%–

06Butner, NCNC8,1125.6%–

07East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3235.9%–

08Swannanoa, NCNC6,9016.4%–

09Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%–

10Stallings, NCNC17,7607.4%–

11Hamlet, NCNC5,8707.6%–

12Trinity, NCNC7,2747.7%–

13Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087.7%–

14Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%–

15Holly Springs, NCNC50,2888.0%–

16Eden, NCNC15,5008.9%–

17Siler City, NCNC8,1558.9%–

18Stokesdale, NCNC6,1338.9%–

19Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%–

20Piney Green, NCNC14,0789.1%–

21Spring Lake, NCNC11,2529.2%–

22St. Stephens, NCNC9,4579.3%–

23Mount Holly, NCNC19,0339.3%–

24Forest City, NCNC7,4109.5%–

25Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1179.5%–

26Ayden, NCNC5,2639.6%–

27Woodfin, NCNC8,2299.6%–

28Walkertown, NCNC6,1209.8%–

29Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.8%–

30Archdale, NCNC12,25410.1%–

31Angier, NCNC9,41010.3%–

32Cherryville, NCNC6,52310.3%–

33Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28710.5%–

34Selma, NCNC7,40610.6%–

35Indian Trail, NCNC44,30310.8%–

36Etowah, NCNC7,96810.9%–

37King, NCNC7,97711.3%–

38Belmont, NCNC16,41511.5%–

39Hope Mills, NCNC18,32411.6%–

40Marion, NCNC7,44011.6%–

41Lenoir, NCNC18,37211.7%–

42Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38611.8%–

43Henderson, NCNC15,01311.9%–

44Winterville, NCNC10,97312.1%–

45Newton, NCNC13,82212.2%–

46Creedmoor, NCNC5,04612.4%–

47Lexington, NCNC20,23812.4%–

48Albemarle, NCNC17,76912.5%–

49Half Moon, NCNC7,37812.5%–

50Lincolnton, NCNC12,46512.6%–

51Mount Airy, NCNC10,68212.6%–

52Mooresville, NCNC55,84212.6%–

53Zebulon, NCNC11,93312.9%–

54Williamston, NCNC5,08613.0%–

55Havelock, NCNC17,43013.0%–

56Graham, NCNC20,13113.0%–

57Dunn, NCNC8,81413.1%–

58Morehead City, NCNC10,43413.2%–

59Silver Lake, NCNC6,56313.4%–

60Gibsonville, NCNC9,87613.6%–

61Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87514.2%–

62Clayton, NCNC32,63314.3%–

63Washington, NCNC9,91014.4%–

64Oxford, NCNC8,98514.4%–

65Mocksville, NCNC6,28214.4%–

66Monroe, NCNC42,64414.6%–

67Harrisburg, NCNC20,74214.7%–

68Concord, NCNC114,59814.8%–

69Sanford, NCNC34,13814.8%–

70Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62214.9%–

71Summerfield, NCNC11,32714.9%–

72Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53614.9%–

73Nashville, NCNC5,91115.1%–

74Laurinburg, NCNC14,58215.1%–

75Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.3%–

76Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%–

77Asheboro, NCNC27,99015.3%–

78Clinton, NCNC8,46615.4%–

79Kinston, NCNC19,70515.4%–

80Mebane, NCNC21,95215.6%–

81Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.7%–

82Shelby, NCNC23,30915.8%–

83Statesville, NCNC32,18115.8%–

84Tarboro, NCNC10,97915.8%–

85Rolesville, NCNC12,83915.9%–

86Goldsboro, NCNC35,01216.0%–

87Gastonia, NCNC87,06716.0%–

88New Bern, NCNC34,72416.0%–

89Lillington, NCNC5,04016.0%–

90Waynesville, NCNC11,00616.1%–

91Pineville, NCNC11,85116.1%–

92Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16516.4%–

93Wendell, NCNC19,68716.5%–

94Cramerton, NCNC5,71316.6%–

95Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12016.7%–

96Kernersville, NCNC29,12817.0%–

97Fletcher, NCNC8,37317.1%–

98Aberdeen, NCNC10,06617.2%–

99Waxhaw, NCNC23,14017.2%–

100Pittsboro, NCNC5,05417.3%–

101Hillsborough, NCNC9,77817.9%–

102High Point, NCNC120,57118.1%–

103Jacksonville, NCNC72,73218.2%–

104Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73118.3%–

105Wilson, NCNC49,57218.4%–

106Lumberton, NCNC18,95518.5%–

107Morganton, NCNC17,84918.8%–

108Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87018.8%–

109Shallotte, NCNC5,33519.1%–

110Burlington, NCNC61,49619.2%–

111Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63719.3%–

112Mint Hill, NCNC29,47619.8%–

113Conover, NCNC8,93819.8%–

114Smithfield, NCNC13,11419.9%–

115Brevard, NCNC8,09820.6%–

116Cornelius, NCNC35,09420.7%–

117Salisbury, NCNC36,87920.7%–

118Wilmington, NCNC126,80920.7%–

119Hendersonville, NCNC15,86721.4%–

120Asheville, NCNC93,52323.0%–

121Huntersville, NCNC68,53523.4%–

122Hickory, NCNC45,97523.4%–

123Garner, NCNC41,56223.4%–

124Ogden, NCNC8,24923.6%–

125Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.8%–

126Lewisville, NCNC14,42124.9%–

127Southern Pines, NCNC17,35726.2%–

128Black Mountain, NCNC8,49126.8%–

129Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27127.2%–

130Morrisville, NCNC32,46627.3%–

131Surf City, NCNC5,14227.8%–

132Charlotte, NCNC964,78428.4%–

133Greensboro, NCNC308,66729.9%–

134Wake Forest, NCNC58,14730.9%–

135Knightdale, NCNC23,14431.4%–

136Greenville, NCNC96,44333.7%–

137Apex, NCNC80,41934.9%–

138Durham, NCNC305,56135.4%–

139Matthews, NCNC32,76938.0%–

140Clemmons, NCNC22,80839.3%–

141Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50540.3%–

142Raleigh, NCNC506,30640.6%–

143Weddington, NCNC14,51741.6%–

144Boone, NCNC19,92943.4%–

145Pinehurst, NCNC18,67045.6%–

146Cullowhee, NCNC7,97346.0%–

147Westport, NCNC5,91546.2%–

148Cary, NCNC183,58248.8%–

149Davidson, NCNC16,66252.0%–

150Carrboro, NCNC20,96256.7%–

151Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56571.2%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS