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 (2020 ACS). This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most educated, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Long View, NCNC5,3878.6%+1.8 pts

02Bessemer City, NCNC5,8348.9%+1.2 pts

03Wadesboro, NCNC5,0359.4%−6.2 pts

04Sawmills, NCNC5,10510.4%+2.5 pts

05Selma, NCNC7,40611.5%+1.4 pts

06Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.9%+0.5 pts

07Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87512.5%−2.7 pts

08Siler City, NCNC8,15513.0%+4.7 pts

09Dallas, NCNC6,39213.1%+4.1 pts

10Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.2%+5.5 pts

11Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.8%+4.2 pts

12East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32313.9%+7.1 pts

13Lexington, NCNC20,23814.1%+0.2 pts

14Lillington, NCNC5,04014.2%+1.0 pts

15Havelock, NCNC17,43015.6%+0.3 pts

16Eden, NCNC15,50015.8%+4.7 pts

17Williamston, NCNC5,08616.0%+2.7 pts

18Marion, NCNC7,44016.1%+1.0 pts

19Swannanoa, NCNC6,90116.3%+4.0 pts

20Kinston, NCNC19,70516.7%+0.1 pts

21Half Moon, NCNC7,37816.7%+0.7 pts

22Ayden, NCNC5,26316.8%+3.3 pts

23Forest City, NCNC7,41017.0%+7.4 pts

24Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.1%+5.3 pts

25Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.2%−0.1 pts

26Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.2%−0.4 pts

27Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28717.3%+4.3 pts

28Henderson, NCNC15,01317.3%+2.7 pts

29Lenoir, NCNC18,37217.6%+4.3 pts

30Monroe, NCNC42,64417.8%+2.2 pts

31Asheboro, NCNC27,99018.0%+1.2 pts

32Reidsville, NCNC14,69218.5%+2.9 pts

33Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.1%+3.8 pts

34Archdale, NCNC12,25419.1%+5.6 pts

35Trinity, NCNC7,27419.2%+6.6 pts

36Dunn, NCNC8,81419.2%+2.3 pts

37Laurinburg, NCNC14,58219.8%−2.0 pts

38Newton, NCNC13,82219.8%+4.7 pts

39Mocksville, NCNC6,28219.9%+1.5 pts

40Zebulon, NCNC11,93320.0%+4.3 pts

41Butner, NCNC8,11220.1%+10.4 pts

42St. Stephens, NCNC9,45720.2%+8.5 pts

43Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38620.3%+5.3 pts

44Goldsboro, NCNC35,01220.5%+3.3 pts

45Conover, NCNC8,93820.6%+2.2 pts

46Morganton, NCNC17,84920.6%−0.2 pts

47Graham, NCNC20,13120.7%+4.0 pts

48Cherryville, NCNC6,52320.8%+8.2 pts

49Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12021.1%+1.0 pts

50Sanford, NCNC34,13821.3%+2.6 pts

51Lumberton, NCNC18,95521.6%+1.2 pts

52Washington, NCNC9,91021.8%+1.0 pts

53Piney Green, NCNC14,07822.0%+3.9 pts

54Hope Mills, NCNC18,32422.1%+7.2 pts

55Oxford, NCNC8,98522.5%+3.7 pts

56Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+4.3 pts

57Wilson, NCNC49,57222.8%+3.7 pts

58Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+2.9 pts

59Locust, NCNC6,12023.2%+12.8 pts

60Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54023.7%−3.3 pts

61Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16523.8%+2.7 pts

62Smithfield, NCNC13,11424.2%+5.9 pts

63King, NCNC7,97724.7%+6.6 pts

64Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.8%+0.7 pts

65Kannapolis, NCNC61,70824.9%+12.9 pts

66Tarboro, NCNC10,97924.9%+7.9 pts

67Jacksonville, NCNC72,73225.0%+7.1 pts

68Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.0%+0.9 pts

69Gastonia, NCNC87,06725.6%+5.4 pts

70Angier, NCNC9,41025.7%+11.0 pts

71Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64925.8%–

72Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+9.4 pts

73Burlington, NCNC61,49626.2%+4.6 pts

74Midway, NCNC5,10426.3%–

75Walkertown, NCNC6,12026.7%+14.5 pts

76Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62226.8%+9.3 pts

77Shelby, NCNC23,30926.8%+8.8 pts

78Nashville, NCNC5,91127.0%+11.8 pts

79Statesville, NCNC32,18127.1%+7.6 pts

80Etowah, NCNC7,96827.2%+6.7 pts

81Fayetteville, NCNC209,12027.3%+3.2 pts

82Kings Grant, NCNC9,00327.3%+4.6 pts

83Spring Lake, NCNC11,25227.4%+18.9 pts

84New Bern, NCNC34,72427.7%+4.7 pts

85Waynesville, NCNC11,00628.0%+10.8 pts

86Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92728.8%–

87Wendell, NCNC19,68729.6%+10.2 pts

88Silver Lake, NCNC6,56329.8%+5.7 pts

89Moyock, NCNC5,68430.6%–

90Clayton, NCNC32,63330.7%+7.3 pts

91Midland, NCNC5,15131.1%–

92Kernersville, NCNC29,12832.0%+6.1 pts

93Mount Holly, NCNC19,03332.0%+17.2 pts

94High Point, NCNC120,57132.2%+6.7 pts

95Fletcher, NCNC8,37332.7%+5.5 pts

96Stokesdale, NCNC6,13332.8%+9.6 pts

97Northchase, NCNC5,89633.2%–

98Morehead City, NCNC10,43433.3%+12.5 pts

99Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27134.3%+3.9 pts

100Brevard, NCNC8,09834.9%+8.6 pts

101Hickory, NCNC45,97535.0%+6.9 pts

102Creedmoor, NCNC5,04635.3%+14.0 pts

103Murraysville, NCNC16,33935.5%+6.5 pts

104Mebane, NCNC21,95235.7%+7.3 pts

105Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73135.8%+8.8 pts

106Aberdeen, NCNC10,06636.0%+14.7 pts

107Hendersonville, NCNC15,86736.1%+5.7 pts

108Gibsonville, NCNC9,87636.5%+12.8 pts

109Woodfin, NCNC8,22937.0%+21.8 pts

110Leland, NCNC35,73137.4%+23.4 pts

111Greenville, NCNC96,44337.8%−0.5 pts

112Concord, NCNC114,59838.3%+15.4 pts

113Indian Trail, NCNC44,30338.6%+16.4 pts

114Cramerton, NCNC5,71338.7%+12.9 pts

115Greensboro, NCNC308,66739.4%+5.5 pts

116Oak Island, NCNC9,33739.6%+20.5 pts

117Mills River, NCNC7,50439.6%–

118Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90640.2%–

119Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+12.7 pts

120Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90840.8%+33.7 pts

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.9%+18.3 pts

122Hampstead, NCNC9,29241.6%–

123Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56641.6%+10.8 pts

124Mooresville, NCNC55,84241.7%+18.9 pts

125Pineville, NCNC11,85141.7%+11.0 pts

126Belmont, NCNC16,41542.1%+20.0 pts

127Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.0%+9.3 pts

128Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87043.3%+19.8 pts

129Lewisville, NCNC14,42143.5%+3.5 pts

130Wilmington, NCNC126,80943.9%+13.0 pts

131Garner, NCNC41,56244.1%+15.9 pts

132Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63744.3%+14.9 pts

133Charlotte, NCNC964,78444.8%+8.3 pts

134Winterville, NCNC10,97345.5%+16.8 pts

135Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53646.4%+19.3 pts

136Stallings, NCNC17,76047.0%+29.4 pts

137Surf City, NCNC5,14247.0%+18.3 pts

138Boone, NCNC19,92948.1%+1.7 pts

139Spout Springs, NCNC11,24248.3%–

140Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.5%+7.5 pts

141Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89649.8%+9.6 pts

142Westport, NCNC5,91549.9%+2.2 pts

143Asheville, NCNC93,52349.9%+19.5 pts

144Ogden, NCNC8,24950.3%+10.6 pts

145Harrisburg, NCNC20,74251.0%+23.6 pts

146Durham, NCNC305,56151.2%+9.4 pts

147Raleigh, NCNC506,30651.4%+6.6 pts

148Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50551.7%+2.9 pts

149Elon, NCNC11,36653.0%–

150Matthews, NCNC32,76953.7%+11.5 pts

151Huntersville, NCNC68,53553.9%+7.4 pts

152Cornelius, NCNC35,09454.4%+4.9 pts

153Waxhaw, NCNC23,14054.6%+24.7 pts

154Southern Pines, NCNC17,35755.0%+19.0 pts

155Wake Forest, NCNC58,14755.5%+12.4 pts

156Summerfield, NCNC11,32755.7%+17.8 pts

157Hillsborough, NCNC9,77856.8%+31.7 pts

158Black Mountain, NCNC8,49157.1%+27.8 pts

159Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.6%+9.9 pts

160Holly Springs, NCNC50,28859.6%+8.9 pts

161Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.7%+10.8 pts

162Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49461.2%+38.2 pts

163Weddington, NCNC14,51762.1%+15.7 pts

164Apex, NCNC80,41962.3%+3.6 pts

165Porters Neck, NCNC7,65462.5%–

166Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.5%+41.5 pts

167St. James, NCNC7,31866.1%+10.3 pts

168Cary, NCNC183,58268.6%+7.9 pts

169Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.7%+8.8 pts

170Morrisville, NCNC32,46670.0%+14.5 pts

171Davidson, NCNC16,66273.8%+12.2 pts

172Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.9%+3.2 pts

173Marvin, NCNC7,04077.7%+17.0 pts

174Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04979.8%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS