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 (2023 ACS). This list covers the 170 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

01Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.4%−4%

02Forest City, NCNC7,4108.3%−13%

03Selma, NCNC7,4068.3%−17%

04Eden, NCNC15,5009.1%−18%

05Roxboro, NCNC8,38010.0%+29%

06Zebulon, NCNC11,93310.1%−36%

07Wadesboro, NCNC5,03510.2%−35%

08Hamlet, NCNC5,87010.3%−10%

09Siler City, NCNC8,15510.4%+25%

10St. Stephens, NCNC9,45710.4%−11%

11Trinity, NCNC7,27410.6%−16%

12Long View, NCNC5,38710.6%+56%

13Rockingham, NCNC8,81511.0%−28%

14Butner, NCNC8,11211.2%+16%

15Havelock, NCNC17,43011.9%−22%

16East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32312.0%+76%

17Lexington, NCNC20,23812.2%−13%

18Sawmills, NCNC5,10512.5%+58%

19Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.0%+35%

20Henderson, NCNC15,01313.0%−11%

21Swannanoa, NCNC6,90113.3%+9%

22Lenoir, NCNC18,37214.4%+8%

23Unionville, NCNC7,32214.5%−12%

24Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90814.8%+107%

25Dunn, NCNC8,81414.9%−12%

26Reidsville, NCNC14,69214.9%−5%

27Archdale, NCNC12,25414.9%+11%

28Locust, NCNC6,12015.0%+44%

29Kinston, NCNC19,70515.1%−9%

30Creedmoor, NCNC5,04615.1%−29%

31Marion, NCNC7,44015.4%+2%

32Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.5%+4%

33Ayden, NCNC5,26315.6%+15%

34Midland, NCNC5,15115.6%–

35Kannapolis, NCNC61,70815.7%+31%

36Monroe, NCNC42,64416.0%+2%

37Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11716.2%+37%

38Oxford, NCNC8,98516.4%−13%

39Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28716.5%+27%

40Newton, NCNC13,82216.9%+12%

41Hope Mills, NCNC18,32417.2%+15%

42Williamston, NCNC5,08617.5%+31%

43Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.5%+3%

44Asheboro, NCNC27,99017.5%+4%

45Spring Lake, NCNC11,25217.6%+106%

46Graham, NCNC20,13117.7%+6%

47Dallas, NCNC6,39217.8%+97%

48Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87517.8%+18%

49Laurinburg, NCNC14,58218.4%−15%

50Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12018.5%−8%

51King, NCNC7,97718.5%+2%

52Goldsboro, NCNC35,01218.5%+8%

53Lillington, NCNC5,04018.7%+41%

54Moyock, NCNC5,68418.7%–

55Albemarle, NCNC17,76918.8%+9%

56Walkertown, NCNC6,12018.8%+54%

57Lincolnton, NCNC12,46519.2%+9%

58Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64919.4%–

59Lumberton, NCNC18,95519.5%−4%

60Midway, NCNC5,10419.6%–

61Cherryville, NCNC6,52319.7%+56%

62Half Moon, NCNC7,37819.9%+25%

63Angier, NCNC9,41020.0%+36%

64Piney Green, NCNC14,07820.4%+12%

65Nashville, NCNC5,91120.4%+34%

66Sanford, NCNC34,13820.5%+10%

67Silver Lake, NCNC6,56320.6%−15%

68Smithfield, NCNC13,11420.9%+14%

69Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62220.9%+20%

70Conover, NCNC8,93821.1%+14%

71Morganton, NCNC17,84921.3%+2%

72Statesville, NCNC32,18121.4%+10%

73Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.5%+1%

74Etowah, NCNC7,96821.6%+6%

75Shelby, NCNC23,30921.7%+20%

76Wilson, NCNC49,57222.1%+15%

77Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16522.2%+5%

78Hampstead, NCNC9,29222.7%–

79Gastonia, NCNC87,06722.7%+12%

80Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+23%

81Mocksville, NCNC6,28223.1%+26%

82Waynesville, NCNC11,00623.3%+35%

83Jacksonville, NCNC72,73223.3%+31%

84Burlington, NCNC61,49623.5%+8%

85Washington, NCNC9,91023.6%+13%

86Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.9%−1%

87Oak Island, NCNC9,33724.2%+27%

88New Bern, NCNC34,72424.6%+7%

89Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.1%+4%

90Kings Grant, NCNC9,00325.2%+11%

91Mooresville, NCNC55,84225.8%+13%

92Concord, NCNC114,59825.8%+13%

93Mount Airy, NCNC10,68225.9%+29%

94Wendell, NCNC19,68726.2%+35%

95Morehead City, NCNC10,43426.2%+26%

96Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54027.0%+0%

97Mount Holly, NCNC19,03327.2%+84%

98Mills River, NCNC7,50427.4%–

99Stokesdale, NCNC6,13327.9%+20%

100Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73128.1%+4%

101Kernersville, NCNC29,12828.1%+9%

102Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49428.6%+24%

103Murraysville, NCNC16,33928.8%−1%

104High Point, NCNC120,57129.1%+14%

105Northchase, NCNC5,89629.2%–

106Hickory, NCNC45,97529.2%+4%

107Pineville, NCNC11,85129.6%−4%

108Woodfin, NCNC8,22929.6%+95%

109Hendersonville, NCNC15,86729.7%−3%

110Shallotte, NCNC5,33530.3%+25%

111Mint Hill, NCNC29,47630.9%+12%

112Brevard, NCNC8,09830.9%+18%

113Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27131.8%+5%

114Gibsonville, NCNC9,87632.4%+36%

115Rolesville, NCNC12,83932.6%+55%

116Pittsboro, NCNC5,05432.6%+45%

117Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53632.7%+20%

118Cramerton, NCNC5,71332.8%+27%

119Clayton, NCNC32,63333.1%+41%

120Mebane, NCNC21,95233.2%+17%

121Indian Trail, NCNC44,30333.4%+50%

122Fletcher, NCNC8,37333.6%+23%

123Leland, NCNC35,73133.6%+141%

124Garner, NCNC41,56234.1%+21%

125Black Mountain, NCNC8,49135.1%+20%

126Greensboro, NCNC308,66735.4%+4%

127Winterville, NCNC10,97336.0%+25%

128Belmont, NCNC16,41536.0%+63%

129Hillsborough, NCNC9,77836.0%+44%

130Greenville, NCNC96,44336.1%−6%

131Wilmington, NCNC126,80936.2%+17%

132Harrisburg, NCNC20,74238.3%+40%

133Asheville, NCNC93,52338.4%+26%

134Stallings, NCNC17,76038.6%+120%

135Charlotte, NCNC964,78439.1%+7%

136Southern Pines, NCNC17,35739.3%+9%

137Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56639.8%+29%

138Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.1%+0%

139Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87040.7%+73%

140Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63741.6%+42%

141Elon, NCNC11,36642.2%–

142Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.5%−13%

143Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.7%+30%

144Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50545.3%−7%

145Clemmons, NCNC22,80845.6%+8%

146Durham, NCNC305,56145.6%+9%

147Boone, NCNC19,92946.2%−1%

148Raleigh, NCNC506,30646.6%+4%

149Matthews, NCNC32,76947.0%+11%

150Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89647.4%+18%

151Waxhaw, NCNC23,14047.9%+60%

152Wake Forest, NCNC58,14750.2%+17%

153Summerfield, NCNC11,32750.7%+34%

154Surf City, NCNC5,14251.3%+79%

155Huntersville, NCNC68,53551.4%+11%

156Cornelius, NCNC35,09451.9%+5%

157Westport, NCNC5,91552.0%+9%

158Ogden, NCNC8,24952.6%+32%

159Holly Springs, NCNC50,28852.8%+4%

160Weddington, NCNC14,51755.0%+19%

161Porters Neck, NCNC7,65456.0%–

162Cullowhee, NCNC7,97356.1%+15%

163Apex, NCNC80,41958.4%−1%

164Cary, NCNC183,58262.3%+3%

165Carrboro, NCNC20,96263.3%+4%

166St. James, NCNC7,31863.6%+14%

167Marvin, NCNC7,04065.8%+8%

168Davidson, NCNC16,66268.0%+10%

169Morrisville, NCNC32,46668.1%+23%

170Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56575.1%+2%

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

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