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 (2000 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 1990

01East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3236.8%+15%

02Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%+1%

03Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9087.1%+144%

04Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.7%+56%

05Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%−0%

06Sawmills, NCNC5,1057.9%+110%

07Siler City, NCNC8,1558.3%−6%

08Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.5%−8%

09Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%+1%

10Forest City, NCNC7,4109.6%+1%

11Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.6%−2%

12Butner, NCNC8,1129.7%+74%

13Selma, NCNC7,40610.1%−4%

14Locust, NCNC6,12010.4%+86%

15Eden, NCNC15,50011.1%+25%

16Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.4%+51%

17St. Stephens, NCNC9,45711.7%+25%

18Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11711.8%+24%

19Kannapolis, NCNC61,70812.0%+55%

20Walkertown, NCNC6,12012.2%+24%

21Swannanoa, NCNC6,90112.2%+93%

22Trinity, NCNC7,27412.5%+63%

23Cherryville, NCNC6,52312.6%+23%

24Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28713.0%+24%

25Lillington, NCNC5,04013.2%−17%

26Williamston, NCNC5,08613.3%+3%

27Lenoir, NCNC18,37213.3%+14%

28Archdale, NCNC12,25413.5%+33%

29Ayden, NCNC5,26313.5%+40%

30Leland, NCNC35,73114.0%+449%

31Lexington, NCNC20,23814.0%+13%

32Henderson, NCNC15,01314.6%+23%

33Angier, NCNC9,41014.7%+43%

34Mount Holly, NCNC19,03314.8%+59%

35Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.0%+26%

36Hope Mills, NCNC18,32415.0%+29%

37Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87515.1%+6%

38Newton, NCNC13,82215.1%+24%

39Marion, NCNC7,44015.1%+30%

40Woodfin, NCNC8,22915.2%+58%

41Nashville, NCNC5,91115.2%+1%

42Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%−0%

43Havelock, NCNC17,43015.3%+18%

44Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.6%−1%

45Monroe, NCNC42,64415.6%+7%

46Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.6%+2%

47Zebulon, NCNC11,93315.7%+22%

48Half Moon, NCNC7,37815.9%+27%

49Unionville, NCNC7,32216.4%–

50Kinston, NCNC19,70516.6%+8%

51Graham, NCNC20,13116.7%+29%

52Asheboro, NCNC27,99016.8%+10%

53Dunn, NCNC8,81416.8%+28%

54Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.0%+8%

55Goldsboro, NCNC35,01217.2%+7%

56Waynesville, NCNC11,00617.2%+7%

57Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.3%+38%

58Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62217.4%+17%

59Stallings, NCNC17,76017.5%+138%

60Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.6%+40%

61Jacksonville, NCNC72,73217.8%−2%

62Shelby, NCNC23,30918.0%+14%

63King, NCNC7,97718.1%+60%

64Piney Green, NCNC14,07818.1%+100%

65Smithfield, NCNC13,11418.3%−8%

66Mocksville, NCNC6,28218.4%+27%

67Clinton, NCNC8,46618.4%+20%

68Conover, NCNC8,93818.5%−7%

69Sanford, NCNC34,13818.6%+26%

70Oxford, NCNC8,98518.8%+30%

71Oak Island, NCNC9,33719.0%–

72Wilson, NCNC49,57219.2%+4%

73Wendell, NCNC19,68719.3%+17%

74Statesville, NCNC32,18119.5%+24%

75Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12020.1%+21%

76Mount Airy, NCNC10,68220.2%+60%

77Gastonia, NCNC87,06720.2%+26%

78Lumberton, NCNC18,95520.4%+10%

79Etowah, NCNC7,96820.5%+88%

80Morganton, NCNC17,84920.8%+11%

81Morehead City, NCNC10,43420.8%+57%

82Washington, NCNC9,91020.8%+45%

83Rolesville, NCNC12,83921.0%+32%

84Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16521.1%+29%

85Creedmoor, NCNC5,04621.3%+72%

86Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.3%+24%

87Burlington, NCNC61,49621.7%+13%

88Laurinburg, NCNC14,58221.8%+44%

89Belmont, NCNC16,41522.0%+92%

90Indian Trail, NCNC44,30322.2%+106%

91Pittsboro, NCNC5,05422.5%+30%

92Kings Grant, NCNC9,00322.7%–

93Mooresville, NCNC55,84222.8%+81%

94Concord, NCNC114,59822.8%+55%

95Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49423.0%–

96New Bern, NCNC34,72423.0%+44%

97Stokesdale, NCNC6,13323.2%+161%

98Clayton, NCNC32,63323.4%+64%

99Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87023.6%+25%

100Gibsonville, NCNC9,87623.8%+74%

101Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.1%+27%

102Salisbury, NCNC36,87924.1%+17%

103Silver Lake, NCNC6,56324.1%+80%

104Fayetteville, NCNC209,12024.2%+2%

105Hillsborough, NCNC9,77825.0%+40%

106High Point, NCNC120,57125.5%+41%

107Cramerton, NCNC5,71325.8%+55%

108Kernersville, NCNC29,12825.9%+53%

109Brevard, NCNC8,09826.3%+28%

110Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54026.9%–

111Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73127.0%+47%

112Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53627.1%+82%

113Fletcher, NCNC8,37327.2%+59%

114Harrisburg, NCNC20,74227.4%+86%

115Mint Hill, NCNC29,47627.6%+40%

116Hickory, NCNC45,97528.0%+20%

117Garner, NCNC41,56228.2%+20%

118Mebane, NCNC21,95228.3%+81%

119Surf City, NCNC5,14228.7%+3%

120Winterville, NCNC10,97328.8%+138%

121Murraysville, NCNC16,33929.0%–

122Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63729.3%+52%

123Black Mountain, NCNC8,49129.4%+9%

124Waxhaw, NCNC23,14029.9%+74%

125Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27130.3%+11%

126Asheville, NCNC93,52330.4%+32%

127Hendersonville, NCNC15,86730.5%+42%

128Pineville, NCNC11,85130.7%+91%

129Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56630.8%–

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80931.0%+49%

131Knightdale, NCNC23,14433.7%+7%

132Greensboro, NCNC308,66733.9%+13%

133Southern Pines, NCNC17,35736.0%+38%

134Charlotte, NCNC964,78436.4%+28%

135Summerfield, NCNC11,32737.9%+154%

136Greenville, NCNC96,44338.4%+14%

137Ogden, NCNC8,24939.7%+69%

138Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.0%+61%

139Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89640.2%–

140Durham, NCNC305,56141.8%+18%

141Clemmons, NCNC22,80842.1%+7%

142Matthews, NCNC32,76942.3%+11%

143Wake Forest, NCNC58,14743.0%+39%

144Raleigh, NCNC506,30644.9%+11%

145Weddington, NCNC14,51746.4%+11%

146Huntersville, NCNC68,53546.5%+99%

147Boone, NCNC19,92946.5%+7%

148Westport, NCNC5,91547.7%+3%

149Cullowhee, NCNC7,97348.7%+6%

150Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50548.8%+21%

151Cornelius, NCNC35,09449.4%+139%

152Pinehurst, NCNC18,67049.9%+9%

153Holly Springs, NCNC50,28850.7%+532%

154Morrisville, NCNC32,46655.5%+103%

155St. James, NCNC7,31855.8%–

156Apex, NCNC80,41958.8%+68%

157Marvin, NCNC7,04060.7%–

158Cary, NCNC183,58260.7%+24%

159Carrboro, NCNC20,96260.9%+7%

160Davidson, NCNC16,66261.6%+19%

161Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56573.7%+4%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS