RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Least educated, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). This list covers the 174 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

01Long View, NCNC5,3878.6%+26%

02Bessemer City, NCNC5,8348.9%+16%

03Wadesboro, NCNC5,0359.4%−40%

04Sawmills, NCNC5,10510.4%+32%

05Selma, NCNC7,40611.5%+14%

06Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.9%+4%

07Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87512.5%−18%

08Siler City, NCNC8,15513.0%+56%

09Dallas, NCNC6,39213.1%+45%

10Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.2%+71%

11Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.8%+44%

12East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32313.9%+104%

13Lexington, NCNC20,23814.1%+1%

14Lillington, NCNC5,04014.2%+7%

15Havelock, NCNC17,43015.6%+2%

16Eden, NCNC15,50015.8%+42%

17Williamston, NCNC5,08616.0%+20%

18Marion, NCNC7,44016.1%+7%

19Swannanoa, NCNC6,90116.3%+33%

20Kinston, NCNC19,70516.7%+0%

21Half Moon, NCNC7,37816.7%+5%

22Ayden, NCNC5,26316.8%+24%

23Forest City, NCNC7,41017.0%+78%

24Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.1%+45%

25Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.2%−1%

26Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.2%−2%

27Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28717.3%+33%

28Henderson, NCNC15,01317.3%+19%

29Lenoir, NCNC18,37217.6%+32%

30Monroe, NCNC42,64417.8%+14%

31Asheboro, NCNC27,99018.0%+7%

32Reidsville, NCNC14,69218.5%+18%

33Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.1%+25%

34Archdale, NCNC12,25419.1%+42%

35Trinity, NCNC7,27419.2%+53%

36Dunn, NCNC8,81419.2%+14%

37Laurinburg, NCNC14,58219.8%−9%

38Newton, NCNC13,82219.8%+31%

39Mocksville, NCNC6,28219.9%+8%

40Zebulon, NCNC11,93320.0%+27%

41Butner, NCNC8,11220.1%+107%

42St. Stephens, NCNC9,45720.2%+73%

43Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38620.3%+35%

44Goldsboro, NCNC35,01220.5%+19%

45Conover, NCNC8,93820.6%+12%

46Morganton, NCNC17,84920.6%−1%

47Graham, NCNC20,13120.7%+24%

48Cherryville, NCNC6,52320.8%+65%

49Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12021.1%+5%

50Sanford, NCNC34,13821.3%+14%

51Lumberton, NCNC18,95521.6%+6%

52Washington, NCNC9,91021.8%+5%

53Piney Green, NCNC14,07822.0%+21%

54Hope Mills, NCNC18,32422.1%+48%

55Oxford, NCNC8,98522.5%+20%

56Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+23%

57Wilson, NCNC49,57222.8%+19%

58Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+14%

59Locust, NCNC6,12023.2%+123%

60Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54023.7%−12%

61Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16523.8%+13%

62Smithfield, NCNC13,11424.2%+32%

63King, NCNC7,97724.7%+36%

64Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.8%+3%

65Kannapolis, NCNC61,70824.9%+108%

66Tarboro, NCNC10,97924.9%+46%

67Jacksonville, NCNC72,73225.0%+40%

68Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.0%+4%

69Gastonia, NCNC87,06725.6%+27%

70Angier, NCNC9,41025.7%+75%

71Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64925.8%–

72Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+57%

73Burlington, NCNC61,49626.2%+21%

74Midway, NCNC5,10426.3%–

75Walkertown, NCNC6,12026.7%+119%

76Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62226.8%+54%

77Shelby, NCNC23,30926.8%+49%

78Nashville, NCNC5,91127.0%+77%

79Statesville, NCNC32,18127.1%+39%

80Etowah, NCNC7,96827.2%+33%

81Fayetteville, NCNC209,12027.3%+13%

82Kings Grant, NCNC9,00327.3%+20%

83Spring Lake, NCNC11,25227.4%+221%

84New Bern, NCNC34,72427.7%+21%

85Waynesville, NCNC11,00628.0%+63%

86Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92728.8%–

87Wendell, NCNC19,68729.6%+53%

88Silver Lake, NCNC6,56329.8%+24%

89Moyock, NCNC5,68430.6%–

90Clayton, NCNC32,63330.7%+31%

91Midland, NCNC5,15131.1%–

92Kernersville, NCNC29,12832.0%+24%

93Mount Holly, NCNC19,03332.0%+116%

94High Point, NCNC120,57132.2%+26%

95Fletcher, NCNC8,37332.7%+20%

96Stokesdale, NCNC6,13332.8%+41%

97Northchase, NCNC5,89633.2%–

98Morehead City, NCNC10,43433.3%+60%

99Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27134.3%+13%

100Brevard, NCNC8,09834.9%+33%

101Hickory, NCNC45,97535.0%+25%

102Creedmoor, NCNC5,04635.3%+66%

103Murraysville, NCNC16,33935.5%+22%

104Mebane, NCNC21,95235.7%+26%

105Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73135.8%+33%

106Aberdeen, NCNC10,06636.0%+69%

107Hendersonville, NCNC15,86736.1%+19%

108Gibsonville, NCNC9,87636.5%+54%

109Woodfin, NCNC8,22937.0%+143%

110Leland, NCNC35,73137.4%+168%

111Greenville, NCNC96,44337.8%−1%

112Concord, NCNC114,59838.3%+68%

113Indian Trail, NCNC44,30338.6%+74%

114Cramerton, NCNC5,71338.7%+50%

115Greensboro, NCNC308,66739.4%+16%

116Oak Island, NCNC9,33739.6%+108%

117Mills River, NCNC7,50439.6%–

118Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90640.2%–

119Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+46%

120Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90840.8%+472%

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.9%+81%

122Hampstead, NCNC9,29241.6%–

123Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56641.6%+35%

124Mooresville, NCNC55,84241.7%+83%

125Pineville, NCNC11,85141.7%+36%

126Belmont, NCNC16,41542.1%+91%

127Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.0%+28%

128Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87043.3%+84%

129Lewisville, NCNC14,42143.5%+9%

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80943.9%+42%

131Garner, NCNC41,56244.1%+56%

132Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63744.3%+51%

133Charlotte, NCNC964,78444.8%+23%

134Winterville, NCNC10,97345.5%+58%

135Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53646.4%+71%

136Stallings, NCNC17,76047.0%+168%

137Surf City, NCNC5,14247.0%+64%

138Boone, NCNC19,92948.1%+4%

139Spout Springs, NCNC11,24248.3%–

140Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.5%+18%

141Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89649.8%+24%

142Westport, NCNC5,91549.9%+5%

143Asheville, NCNC93,52349.9%+64%

144Ogden, NCNC8,24950.3%+27%

145Harrisburg, NCNC20,74251.0%+86%

146Durham, NCNC305,56151.2%+23%

147Raleigh, NCNC506,30651.4%+15%

148Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50551.7%+6%

149Elon, NCNC11,36653.0%–

150Matthews, NCNC32,76953.7%+27%

151Huntersville, NCNC68,53553.9%+16%

152Cornelius, NCNC35,09454.4%+10%

153Waxhaw, NCNC23,14054.6%+83%

154Southern Pines, NCNC17,35755.0%+53%

155Wake Forest, NCNC58,14755.5%+29%

156Summerfield, NCNC11,32755.7%+47%

157Hillsborough, NCNC9,77856.8%+127%

158Black Mountain, NCNC8,49157.1%+95%

159Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.6%+20%

160Holly Springs, NCNC50,28859.6%+17%

161Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.7%+22%

162Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49461.2%+166%

163Weddington, NCNC14,51762.1%+34%

164Apex, NCNC80,41962.3%+6%

165Porters Neck, NCNC7,65462.5%–

166Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.5%+198%

167St. James, NCNC7,31866.1%+19%

168Cary, NCNC183,58268.6%+13%

169Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.7%+15%

170Morrisville, NCNC32,46670.0%+26%

171Davidson, NCNC16,66273.8%+20%

172Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.9%+4%

173Marvin, NCNC7,04077.7%+28%

174Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04979.8%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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