RANKING · 2024 ACS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Least educated, North Carolina counties

North Carolina counties with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Anson County, NCNC21,7589.9%+8%

02Gates County, NCNC10,23410.9%+4%

03Greene County, NCNC20,70012.2%+50%

04Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53713.0%+23%

05Columbus County, NCNC50,48714.6%+45%

06Robeson County, NCNC119,94114.7%+28%

07Hyde County, NCNC4,55414.7%+39%

08Washington County, NCNC10,63814.8%+28%

09Richmond County, NCNC42,04116.0%+58%

10Halifax County, NCNC46,53416.1%+45%

11Sampson County, NCNC61,50416.2%+47%

12Lenoir County, NCNC55,83716.3%+23%

13Hertford County, NCNC19,01516.6%+49%

14Scotland County, NCNC33,32216.6%+4%

15Alexander County, NCNC36,95816.7%+79%

16Martin County, NCNC21,60116.7%+44%

17Wilkes County, NCNC66,23316.9%+50%

18Rockingham County, NCNC94,19517.0%+57%

19Vance County, NCNC42,63817.2%+60%

20Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12117.5%+106%

21Yadkin County, NCNC38,32517.5%+70%

22Graham County, NCNC8,19017.6%+57%

23Duplin County, NCNC51,57117.6%+68%

24Northampton County, NCNC16,49117.9%+65%

25Randolph County, NCNC149,51617.9%+62%

26Caswell County, NCNC22,56317.9%+116%

27McDowell County, NCNC45,19818.1%+102%

28Stokes County, NCNC46,12618.2%+96%

29Caldwell County, NCNC81,10518.8%+81%

30Warren County, NCNC18,89818.9%+63%

31Bertie County, NCNC17,08619.0%+115%

32Montgomery County, NCNC26,40319.2%+91%

33Person County, NCNC40,63619.3%+87%

34Bladen County, NCNC30,00719.5%+73%

35Jones County, NCNC9,57519.8%+108%

36Stanly County, NCNC68,83019.9%+56%

37Surry County, NCNC72,28720.4%+69%

38Burke County, NCNC88,65521.0%+65%

39Beaufort County, NCNC44,67021.2%+33%

40Lee County, NCNC70,25821.3%+24%

41Swain County, NCNC14,02421.4%+54%

42Rutherford County, NCNC65,74521.5%+72%

43Perquimans County, NCNC13,49021.7%+76%

44Davidson County, NCNC180,18221.7%+70%

45Wilson County, NCNC81,15021.7%+44%

46Wayne County, NCNC122,27821.7%+45%

47Cleveland County, NCNC103,32522.0%+66%

48Nash County, NCNC99,36522.1%+28%

49Rowan County, NCNC155,09623.3%+64%

50Hoke County, NCNC56,93923.5%+115%

51Alleghany County, NCNC11,47923.6%+102%

52Cherokee County, NCNC30,83024.2%+120%

53Mitchell County, NCNC15,06224.2%+98%

54Harnett County, NCNC150,13724.5%+92%

55Chowan County, NCNC14,08225.0%+52%

56Avery County, NCNC18,11025.0%+73%

57Yancey County, NCNC19,08425.1%+91%

58Granville County, NCNC61,42125.2%+94%

59Pamlico County, NCNC12,75825.4%+73%

60Ashe County, NCNC27,51425.9%+115%

61Onslow County, NCNC217,17526.0%+76%

62Catawba County, NCNC170,17226.1%+54%

63Gaston County, NCNC246,55826.5%+87%

64Franklin County, NCNC82,03727.0%+104%

65Davie County, NCNC45,85527.3%+55%

66Craven County, NCNC105,02527.5%+43%

67Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20127.6%+68%

68Cumberland County, NCNC338,47327.8%+46%

69Macon County, NCNC39,23227.9%+73%

70Lincoln County, NCNC98,65428.3%+118%

71Camden County, NCNC11,31528.6%+76%

72Alamance County, NCNC186,17728.7%+50%

73Johnston County, NCNC256,44828.9%+82%

74Haywood County, NCNC63,36929.5%+85%

75Pender County, NCNC72,11130.6%+126%

76Currituck County, NCNC33,15830.9%+133%

77Jackson County, NCNC45,03931.1%+22%

78Clay County, NCNC12,23931.8%+106%

79Madison County, NCNC22,55332.2%+100%

80Pitt County, NCNC182,93633.8%+28%

81Iredell County, NCNC211,79834.1%+96%

82Carteret County, NCNC70,46934.5%+74%

83Brunswick County, NCNC174,70234.7%+116%

84Polk County, NCNC20,53336.2%+41%

85Henderson County, NCNC122,37536.5%+51%

86Cabarrus County, NCNC249,72537.9%+98%

87Forsyth County, NCNC401,71838.5%+34%

88Guilford County, NCNC562,23439.0%+29%

89Transylvania County, NCNC34,21140.0%+68%

90Union County, NCNC267,67440.5%+90%

91Moore County, NCNC110,61941.0%+53%

92Dare County, NCNC38,24543.2%+56%

93New Hanover County, NCNC245,95945.4%+47%

94Buncombe County, NCNC277,41745.9%+82%

95Watauga County, NCNC54,78648.1%+45%

96Chatham County, NCNC85,11148.9%+77%

97Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,38349.2%+33%

98Durham County, NCNC347,24055.2%+38%

99Wake County, NCNC1,257,23557.2%+30%

100Orange County, NCNC152,49861.8%+20%

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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