RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Least educated, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). This list covers the 161 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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3236.8%+0%

02Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%+0%

03Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9087.1%+0%

04Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.7%+0%

05Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%+0%

06Sawmills, NCNC5,1057.9%+0%

07Siler City, NCNC8,1558.3%+0%

08Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.5%+0%

09Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%+0%

10Forest City, NCNC7,4109.6%+0%

11Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.6%+0%

12Butner, NCNC8,1129.7%+0%

13Selma, NCNC7,40610.1%+0%

14Locust, NCNC6,12010.4%+0%

15Eden, NCNC15,50011.1%+0%

16Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.4%+0%

17St. Stephens, NCNC9,45711.7%+0%

18Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11711.8%+0%

19Kannapolis, NCNC61,70812.0%+0%

20Walkertown, NCNC6,12012.2%+0%

21Swannanoa, NCNC6,90112.2%+0%

22Trinity, NCNC7,27412.5%+0%

23Cherryville, NCNC6,52312.6%+0%

24Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28713.0%+0%

25Lillington, NCNC5,04013.2%+0%

26Williamston, NCNC5,08613.3%+0%

27Lenoir, NCNC18,37213.3%+0%

28Archdale, NCNC12,25413.5%+0%

29Ayden, NCNC5,26313.5%+0%

30Leland, NCNC35,73114.0%+0%

31Lexington, NCNC20,23814.0%+0%

32Henderson, NCNC15,01314.6%+0%

33Angier, NCNC9,41014.7%+0%

34Mount Holly, NCNC19,03314.8%+0%

35Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.0%+0%

36Hope Mills, NCNC18,32415.0%+0%

37Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87515.1%+0%

38Newton, NCNC13,82215.1%+0%

39Marion, NCNC7,44015.1%+0%

40Woodfin, NCNC8,22915.2%+0%

41Nashville, NCNC5,91115.2%+0%

42Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%+0%

43Havelock, NCNC17,43015.3%+0%

44Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.6%+0%

45Monroe, NCNC42,64415.6%+0%

46Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.6%+0%

47Zebulon, NCNC11,93315.7%+0%

48Half Moon, NCNC7,37815.9%+0%

49Unionville, NCNC7,32216.4%+0%

50Kinston, NCNC19,70516.6%+0%

51Graham, NCNC20,13116.7%+0%

52Asheboro, NCNC27,99016.8%+0%

53Dunn, NCNC8,81416.8%+0%

54Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.0%+0%

55Goldsboro, NCNC35,01217.2%+0%

56Waynesville, NCNC11,00617.2%+0%

57Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.3%+0%

58Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62217.4%+0%

59Stallings, NCNC17,76017.5%+0%

60Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.6%+0%

61Jacksonville, NCNC72,73217.8%+0%

62Shelby, NCNC23,30918.0%+0%

63King, NCNC7,97718.1%+0%

64Piney Green, NCNC14,07818.1%+0%

65Smithfield, NCNC13,11418.3%+0%

66Mocksville, NCNC6,28218.4%+0%

67Clinton, NCNC8,46618.4%+0%

68Conover, NCNC8,93818.5%+0%

69Sanford, NCNC34,13818.6%+0%

70Oxford, NCNC8,98518.8%+0%

71Oak Island, NCNC9,33719.0%+0%

72Wilson, NCNC49,57219.2%+0%

73Wendell, NCNC19,68719.3%+0%

74Statesville, NCNC32,18119.5%+0%

75Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12020.1%+0%

76Mount Airy, NCNC10,68220.2%+0%

77Gastonia, NCNC87,06720.2%+0%

78Lumberton, NCNC18,95520.4%+0%

79Etowah, NCNC7,96820.5%+0%

80Morganton, NCNC17,84920.8%+0%

81Morehead City, NCNC10,43420.8%+0%

82Washington, NCNC9,91020.8%+0%

83Rolesville, NCNC12,83921.0%+0%

84Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16521.1%+0%

85Creedmoor, NCNC5,04621.3%+0%

86Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.3%+0%

87Burlington, NCNC61,49621.7%+0%

88Laurinburg, NCNC14,58221.8%+0%

89Belmont, NCNC16,41522.0%+0%

90Indian Trail, NCNC44,30322.2%+0%

91Pittsboro, NCNC5,05422.5%+0%

92Kings Grant, NCNC9,00322.7%+0%

93Mooresville, NCNC55,84222.8%+0%

94Concord, NCNC114,59822.8%+0%

95Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49423.0%+0%

96New Bern, NCNC34,72423.0%+0%

97Stokesdale, NCNC6,13323.2%+0%

98Clayton, NCNC32,63323.4%+0%

99Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87023.6%+0%

100Gibsonville, NCNC9,87623.8%+0%

101Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.1%+0%

102Salisbury, NCNC36,87924.1%+0%

103Silver Lake, NCNC6,56324.1%+0%

104Fayetteville, NCNC209,12024.2%+0%

105Hillsborough, NCNC9,77825.0%+0%

106High Point, NCNC120,57125.5%+0%

107Cramerton, NCNC5,71325.8%+0%

108Kernersville, NCNC29,12825.9%+0%

109Brevard, NCNC8,09826.3%+0%

110Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54026.9%+0%

111Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73127.0%+0%

112Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53627.1%+0%

113Fletcher, NCNC8,37327.2%+0%

114Harrisburg, NCNC20,74227.4%+0%

115Mint Hill, NCNC29,47627.6%+0%

116Hickory, NCNC45,97528.0%+0%

117Garner, NCNC41,56228.2%+0%

118Mebane, NCNC21,95228.3%+0%

119Surf City, NCNC5,14228.7%+0%

120Winterville, NCNC10,97328.8%+0%

121Murraysville, NCNC16,33929.0%+0%

122Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63729.3%+0%

123Black Mountain, NCNC8,49129.4%+0%

124Waxhaw, NCNC23,14029.9%+0%

125Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27130.3%+0%

126Asheville, NCNC93,52330.4%+0%

127Hendersonville, NCNC15,86730.5%+0%

128Pineville, NCNC11,85130.7%+0%

129Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56630.8%+0%

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80931.0%+0%

131Knightdale, NCNC23,14433.7%+0%

132Greensboro, NCNC308,66733.9%+0%

133Southern Pines, NCNC17,35736.0%+0%

134Charlotte, NCNC964,78436.4%+0%

135Summerfield, NCNC11,32737.9%+0%

136Greenville, NCNC96,44338.4%+0%

137Ogden, NCNC8,24939.7%+0%

138Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.0%+0%

139Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89640.2%+0%

140Durham, NCNC305,56141.8%+0%

141Clemmons, NCNC22,80842.1%+0%

142Matthews, NCNC32,76942.3%+0%

143Wake Forest, NCNC58,14743.0%+0%

144Raleigh, NCNC506,30644.9%+0%

145Weddington, NCNC14,51746.4%+0%

146Huntersville, NCNC68,53546.5%+0%

147Boone, NCNC19,92946.5%+0%

148Westport, NCNC5,91547.7%+0%

149Cullowhee, NCNC7,97348.7%+0%

150Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50548.8%+0%

151Cornelius, NCNC35,09449.4%+0%

152Pinehurst, NCNC18,67049.9%+0%

153Holly Springs, NCNC50,28850.7%+0%

154Morrisville, NCNC32,46655.5%+0%

155St. James, NCNC7,31855.8%+0%

156Apex, NCNC80,41958.8%+0%

157Marvin, NCNC7,04060.7%+0%

158Cary, NCNC183,58260.7%+0%

159Carrboro, NCNC20,96260.9%+0%

160Davidson, NCNC16,66261.6%+0%

161Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56573.7%+0%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

Download CSV (full list, 161 rows)

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