RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Least educated, North Carolina cities · 2010

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2010 ACS). This list covers the 170 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 170 is 23.9%.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.4%−0.3 pts

02Forest City, NCNC7,4108.3%−1.2 pts

03Selma, NCNC7,4068.3%−1.8 pts

04Eden, NCNC15,5009.1%−2.0 pts

05Roxboro, NCNC8,38010.0%+2.2 pts

06Zebulon, NCNC11,93310.1%−5.6 pts

07Wadesboro, NCNC5,03510.2%−5.4 pts

08Hamlet, NCNC5,87010.3%−1.1 pts

09Siler City, NCNC8,15510.4%+2.1 pts

10St. Stephens, NCNC9,45710.4%−1.2 pts

11Trinity, NCNC7,27410.6%−2.0 pts

12Long View, NCNC5,38710.6%+3.8 pts

13Rockingham, NCNC8,81511.0%−4.2 pts

14Butner, NCNC8,11211.2%+1.5 pts

15Havelock, NCNC17,43011.9%−3.4 pts

16East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32312.0%+5.2 pts

17Lexington, NCNC20,23812.2%−1.8 pts

18Sawmills, NCNC5,10512.5%+4.6 pts

19Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.0%+3.3 pts

20Henderson, NCNC15,01313.0%−1.7 pts

21Swannanoa, NCNC6,90113.3%+1.1 pts

22Lenoir, NCNC18,37214.4%+1.1 pts

23Unionville, NCNC7,32214.5%−2.0 pts

24Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90814.8%+7.7 pts

25Dunn, NCNC8,81414.9%−2.0 pts

26Reidsville, NCNC14,69214.9%−0.7 pts

27Archdale, NCNC12,25414.9%+1.5 pts

28Locust, NCNC6,12015.0%+4.6 pts

29Kinston, NCNC19,70515.1%−1.5 pts

30Creedmoor, NCNC5,04615.1%−6.2 pts

31Marion, NCNC7,44015.4%+0.3 pts

32Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.5%+0.5 pts

33Ayden, NCNC5,26315.6%+2.0 pts

34Midland, NCNC5,15115.6%–

35Kannapolis, NCNC61,70815.7%+3.7 pts

36Monroe, NCNC42,64416.0%+0.4 pts

37Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11716.2%+4.4 pts

38Oxford, NCNC8,98516.4%−2.4 pts

39Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28716.5%+3.6 pts

40Newton, NCNC13,82216.9%+1.8 pts

41Hope Mills, NCNC18,32417.2%+2.2 pts

42Williamston, NCNC5,08617.5%+4.2 pts

43Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.5%+0.5 pts

44Asheboro, NCNC27,99017.5%+0.7 pts

45Spring Lake, NCNC11,25217.6%+9.0 pts

46Graham, NCNC20,13117.7%+0.9 pts

47Dallas, NCNC6,39217.8%+8.7 pts

48Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87517.8%+2.7 pts

49Laurinburg, NCNC14,58218.4%−3.3 pts

50Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12018.5%−1.6 pts

51King, NCNC7,97718.5%+0.4 pts

52Goldsboro, NCNC35,01218.5%+1.4 pts

53Lillington, NCNC5,04018.7%+5.4 pts

54Moyock, NCNC5,68418.7%–

55Albemarle, NCNC17,76918.8%+1.5 pts

56Walkertown, NCNC6,12018.8%+6.6 pts

57Lincolnton, NCNC12,46519.2%+1.6 pts

58Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64919.4%–

59Lumberton, NCNC18,95519.5%−0.9 pts

60Midway, NCNC5,10419.6%–

61Cherryville, NCNC6,52319.7%+7.0 pts

62Half Moon, NCNC7,37819.9%+4.0 pts

63Angier, NCNC9,41020.0%+5.3 pts

64Piney Green, NCNC14,07820.4%+2.2 pts

65Nashville, NCNC5,91120.4%+5.2 pts

66Sanford, NCNC34,13820.5%+1.9 pts

67Silver Lake, NCNC6,56320.6%−3.5 pts

68Smithfield, NCNC13,11420.9%+2.5 pts

69Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62220.9%+3.5 pts

70Conover, NCNC8,93821.1%+2.7 pts

71Morganton, NCNC17,84921.3%+0.5 pts

72Statesville, NCNC32,18121.4%+1.9 pts

73Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.5%+0.2 pts

74Etowah, NCNC7,96821.6%+1.2 pts

75Shelby, NCNC23,30921.7%+3.7 pts

76Wilson, NCNC49,57222.1%+2.9 pts

77Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16522.2%+1.1 pts

78Hampstead, NCNC9,29222.7%–

79Gastonia, NCNC87,06722.7%+2.5 pts

80Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+4.3 pts

81Mocksville, NCNC6,28223.1%+4.8 pts

82Waynesville, NCNC11,00623.3%+6.1 pts

83Jacksonville, NCNC72,73223.3%+5.4 pts

84Burlington, NCNC61,49623.5%+1.8 pts

85Washington, NCNC9,91023.6%+2.8 pts

86Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.9%−0.3 pts

87Oak Island, NCNC9,33724.2%+5.1 pts

88New Bern, NCNC34,72424.6%+1.6 pts

89Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.1%+1.0 pts

90Kings Grant, NCNC9,00325.2%+2.5 pts

91Mooresville, NCNC55,84225.8%+2.9 pts

92Concord, NCNC114,59825.8%+3.0 pts

93Mount Airy, NCNC10,68225.9%+5.8 pts

94Wendell, NCNC19,68726.2%+6.8 pts

95Morehead City, NCNC10,43426.2%+5.4 pts

96Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54027.0%+0.1 pts

97Mount Holly, NCNC19,03327.2%+12.4 pts

98Mills River, NCNC7,50427.4%–

99Stokesdale, NCNC6,13327.9%+4.6 pts

100Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73128.1%+1.1 pts

101Kernersville, NCNC29,12828.1%+2.2 pts

102Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49428.6%+5.6 pts

103Murraysville, NCNC16,33928.8%−0.2 pts

104High Point, NCNC120,57129.1%+3.6 pts

105Northchase, NCNC5,89629.2%–

106Hickory, NCNC45,97529.2%+1.2 pts

107Pineville, NCNC11,85129.6%−1.1 pts

108Woodfin, NCNC8,22929.6%+14.4 pts

109Hendersonville, NCNC15,86729.7%−0.8 pts

110Shallotte, NCNC5,33530.3%+6.1 pts

111Mint Hill, NCNC29,47630.9%+3.3 pts

112Brevard, NCNC8,09830.9%+4.6 pts

113Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27131.8%+1.5 pts

114Gibsonville, NCNC9,87632.4%+8.6 pts

115Rolesville, NCNC12,83932.6%+11.6 pts

116Pittsboro, NCNC5,05432.6%+10.1 pts

117Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53632.7%+5.6 pts

118Cramerton, NCNC5,71332.8%+7.0 pts

119Clayton, NCNC32,63333.1%+9.7 pts

120Mebane, NCNC21,95233.2%+4.9 pts

121Indian Trail, NCNC44,30333.4%+11.1 pts

122Fletcher, NCNC8,37333.6%+6.3 pts

123Leland, NCNC35,73133.6%+19.7 pts

124Garner, NCNC41,56234.1%+5.9 pts

125Black Mountain, NCNC8,49135.1%+5.8 pts

126Greensboro, NCNC308,66735.4%+1.4 pts

127Winterville, NCNC10,97336.0%+7.2 pts

128Belmont, NCNC16,41536.0%+13.9 pts

129Hillsborough, NCNC9,77836.0%+11.0 pts

130Greenville, NCNC96,44336.1%−2.3 pts

131Wilmington, NCNC126,80936.2%+5.2 pts

132Harrisburg, NCNC20,74238.3%+10.9 pts

133Asheville, NCNC93,52338.4%+8.0 pts

134Stallings, NCNC17,76038.6%+21.0 pts

135Charlotte, NCNC964,78439.1%+2.7 pts

136Southern Pines, NCNC17,35739.3%+3.3 pts

137Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56639.8%+9.0 pts

138Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.1%+0.1 pts

139Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87040.7%+17.2 pts

140Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63741.6%+12.3 pts

141Elon, NCNC11,36642.2%–

142Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.5%−6.4 pts

143Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.7%+10.1 pts

144Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50545.3%−3.5 pts

145Clemmons, NCNC22,80845.6%+3.5 pts

146Durham, NCNC305,56145.6%+3.8 pts

147Boone, NCNC19,92946.2%−0.3 pts

148Raleigh, NCNC506,30646.6%+1.8 pts

149Matthews, NCNC32,76947.0%+4.7 pts

150Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89647.4%+7.2 pts

151Waxhaw, NCNC23,14047.9%+17.9 pts

152Wake Forest, NCNC58,14750.2%+7.2 pts

153Summerfield, NCNC11,32750.7%+12.8 pts

154Surf City, NCNC5,14251.3%+22.6 pts

155Huntersville, NCNC68,53551.4%+5.0 pts

156Cornelius, NCNC35,09451.9%+2.4 pts

157Westport, NCNC5,91552.0%+4.3 pts

158Ogden, NCNC8,24952.6%+12.9 pts

159Holly Springs, NCNC50,28852.8%+2.2 pts

160Weddington, NCNC14,51755.0%+8.6 pts

161Porters Neck, NCNC7,65456.0%–

162Cullowhee, NCNC7,97356.1%+7.5 pts

163Apex, NCNC80,41958.4%−0.3 pts

164Cary, NCNC183,58262.3%+1.6 pts

165Carrboro, NCNC20,96263.3%+2.5 pts

166St. James, NCNC7,31863.6%+7.8 pts

167Marvin, NCNC7,04065.8%+5.1 pts

168Davidson, NCNC16,66268.0%+6.3 pts

169Morrisville, NCNC32,46668.1%+12.6 pts

170Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56575.1%+1.4 pts

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

Download CSV (full list, 170 rows)

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