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 (2023 ACS). This list covers the 151 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

01Leland, NCNC35,7312.5%−82%

02Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.9%−59%

03Sawmills, NCNC5,1053.8%−52%

04Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.9%−36%

05Locust, NCNC6,1205.6%−46%

06Butner, NCNC8,1125.6%−43%

07East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3235.9%−13%

08Swannanoa, NCNC6,9016.4%−48%

09Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%−1%

10Stallings, NCNC17,7607.4%−58%

11Hamlet, NCNC5,8707.6%−34%

12Trinity, NCNC7,2747.7%−39%

13Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087.7%−35%

14Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%+0%

15Holly Springs, NCNC50,2888.0%−84%

16Eden, NCNC15,5008.9%−20%

17Siler City, NCNC8,1558.9%+6%

18Stokesdale, NCNC6,1338.9%−62%

19Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%−1%

20Piney Green, NCNC14,0789.1%−50%

21Spring Lake, NCNC11,2529.2%+8%

22St. Stephens, NCNC9,4579.3%−20%

23Mount Holly, NCNC19,0339.3%−37%

24Forest City, NCNC7,4109.5%−1%

25Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1179.5%−19%

26Ayden, NCNC5,2639.6%−29%

27Woodfin, NCNC8,2299.6%−37%

28Walkertown, NCNC6,1209.8%−20%

29Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.8%+2%

30Archdale, NCNC12,25410.1%−25%

31Angier, NCNC9,41010.3%−30%

32Cherryville, NCNC6,52310.3%−19%

33Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28710.5%−19%

34Selma, NCNC7,40610.6%+5%

35Indian Trail, NCNC44,30310.8%−51%

36Etowah, NCNC7,96810.9%−47%

37King, NCNC7,97711.3%−37%

38Belmont, NCNC16,41511.5%−48%

39Hope Mills, NCNC18,32411.6%−23%

40Marion, NCNC7,44011.6%−23%

41Lenoir, NCNC18,37211.7%−12%

42Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38611.8%−21%

43Henderson, NCNC15,01311.9%−19%

44Winterville, NCNC10,97312.1%−58%

45Newton, NCNC13,82212.2%−20%

46Creedmoor, NCNC5,04612.4%−42%

47Lexington, NCNC20,23812.4%−11%

48Albemarle, NCNC17,76912.5%−28%

49Half Moon, NCNC7,37812.5%−21%

50Lincolnton, NCNC12,46512.6%−29%

51Mount Airy, NCNC10,68212.6%−37%

52Mooresville, NCNC55,84212.6%−45%

53Zebulon, NCNC11,93312.9%−18%

54Williamston, NCNC5,08613.0%−3%

55Havelock, NCNC17,43013.0%−15%

56Graham, NCNC20,13113.0%−22%

57Dunn, NCNC8,81413.1%−22%

58Morehead City, NCNC10,43413.2%−36%

59Silver Lake, NCNC6,56313.4%−45%

60Gibsonville, NCNC9,87613.6%−43%

61Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87514.2%−6%

62Clayton, NCNC32,63314.3%−39%

63Washington, NCNC9,91014.4%−31%

64Oxford, NCNC8,98514.4%−23%

65Mocksville, NCNC6,28214.4%−22%

66Monroe, NCNC42,64414.6%−7%

67Harrisburg, NCNC20,74214.7%−46%

68Concord, NCNC114,59814.8%−35%

69Sanford, NCNC34,13814.8%−20%

70Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62214.9%−15%

71Summerfield, NCNC11,32714.9%−61%

72Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53614.9%−45%

73Nashville, NCNC5,91115.1%−1%

74Laurinburg, NCNC14,58215.1%−31%

75Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.3%−2%

76Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%+0%

77Asheboro, NCNC27,99015.3%−9%

78Clinton, NCNC8,46615.4%−17%

79Kinston, NCNC19,70515.4%−7%

80Mebane, NCNC21,95215.6%−45%

81Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.7%+1%

82Shelby, NCNC23,30915.8%−13%

83Statesville, NCNC32,18115.8%−19%

84Tarboro, NCNC10,97915.8%−7%

85Rolesville, NCNC12,83915.9%−24%

86Goldsboro, NCNC35,01216.0%−7%

87Gastonia, NCNC87,06716.0%−21%

88New Bern, NCNC34,72416.0%−30%

89Lillington, NCNC5,04016.0%+21%

90Waynesville, NCNC11,00616.1%−6%

91Pineville, NCNC11,85116.1%−48%

92Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16516.4%−22%

93Wendell, NCNC19,68716.5%−15%

94Cramerton, NCNC5,71316.6%−35%

95Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12016.7%−17%

96Kernersville, NCNC29,12817.0%−34%

97Fletcher, NCNC8,37317.1%−37%

98Aberdeen, NCNC10,06617.2%−20%

99Waxhaw, NCNC23,14017.2%−43%

100Pittsboro, NCNC5,05417.3%−23%

101Hillsborough, NCNC9,77817.9%−29%

102High Point, NCNC120,57118.1%−29%

103Jacksonville, NCNC72,73218.2%+2%

104Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73118.3%−32%

105Wilson, NCNC49,57218.4%−4%

106Lumberton, NCNC18,95518.5%−9%

107Morganton, NCNC17,84918.8%−10%

108Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87018.8%−20%

109Shallotte, NCNC5,33519.1%−21%

110Burlington, NCNC61,49619.2%−11%

111Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63719.3%−34%

112Mint Hill, NCNC29,47619.8%−28%

113Conover, NCNC8,93819.8%+7%

114Smithfield, NCNC13,11419.9%+9%

115Brevard, NCNC8,09820.6%−22%

116Cornelius, NCNC35,09420.7%−58%

117Salisbury, NCNC36,87920.7%−14%

118Wilmington, NCNC126,80920.7%−33%

119Hendersonville, NCNC15,86721.4%−30%

120Asheville, NCNC93,52323.0%−24%

121Huntersville, NCNC68,53523.4%−50%

122Hickory, NCNC45,97523.4%−17%

123Garner, NCNC41,56223.4%−17%

124Ogden, NCNC8,24923.6%−41%

125Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.8%−2%

126Lewisville, NCNC14,42124.9%−38%

127Southern Pines, NCNC17,35726.2%−27%

128Black Mountain, NCNC8,49126.8%−9%

129Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27127.2%−10%

130Morrisville, NCNC32,46627.3%−51%

131Surf City, NCNC5,14227.8%−3%

132Charlotte, NCNC964,78428.4%−22%

133Greensboro, NCNC308,66729.9%−12%

134Wake Forest, NCNC58,14730.9%−28%

135Knightdale, NCNC23,14431.4%−7%

136Greenville, NCNC96,44333.7%−12%

137Apex, NCNC80,41934.9%−41%

138Durham, NCNC305,56135.4%−15%

139Matthews, NCNC32,76938.0%−10%

140Clemmons, NCNC22,80839.3%−7%

141Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50540.3%−17%

142Raleigh, NCNC506,30640.6%−10%

143Weddington, NCNC14,51741.6%−10%

144Boone, NCNC19,92943.4%−7%

145Pinehurst, NCNC18,67045.6%−9%

146Cullowhee, NCNC7,97346.0%−6%

147Westport, NCNC5,91546.2%−3%

148Cary, NCNC183,58248.8%−20%

149Davidson, NCNC16,66252.0%−16%

150Carrboro, NCNC20,96256.7%−7%

151Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56571.2%−3%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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