RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Least educated, North Carolina counties · 1990

North Carolina counties with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 100 is 10.7%.

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North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDMost college graduates Most educated Most graduate degrees Fewest graduate degrees

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

01Caswell County, NCNC22,5636.6%–

02Duplin County, NCNC51,5716.6%–

03Yadkin County, NCNC38,3257.1%–

04Warren County, NCNC18,8987.1%–

05Stokes County, NCNC46,1267.3%–

06Anson County, NCNC21,7587.3%–

07Gates County, NCNC10,2347.4%–

08Person County, NCNC40,6367.6%–

09Tyrrell County, NCNC3,5377.6%–

10Bladen County, NCNC30,0077.7%–

11Hyde County, NCNC4,5547.7%–

12Montgomery County, NCNC26,4037.8%–

13Richmond County, NCNC42,0417.9%–

14Alexander County, NCNC36,9587.9%–

15Cherokee County, NCNC30,8308.0%–

16Bertie County, NCNC17,0868.0%–

17McDowell County, NCNC45,1988.1%–

18Sampson County, NCNC61,5048.1%–

19Edgecombe County, NCNC49,1218.1%–

20Jones County, NCNC9,5758.1%–

21Ashe County, NCNC27,5148.1%–

22Currituck County, NCNC33,1588.2%–

23Hoke County, NCNC56,9398.4%–

24Halifax County, NCNC46,5348.6%–

25Washington County, NCNC10,6388.7%–

26Wilkes County, NCNC66,2338.8%–

27Northampton County, NCNC16,4918.8%–

28Perquimans County, NCNC13,4908.8%–

29Rockingham County, NCNC94,1958.8%–

30Caldwell County, NCNC81,1058.9%–

31Greene County, NCNC20,7008.9%–

32Alleghany County, NCNC11,4799.0%–

33Columbus County, NCNC50,4879.1%–

34Randolph County, NCNC149,5169.1%–

35Franklin County, NCNC82,0379.2%–

36Mitchell County, NCNC15,0629.2%–

37Surry County, NCNC72,2879.4%–

38Stanly County, NCNC68,8309.4%–

39Vance County, NCNC42,6389.5%–

40Martin County, NCNC21,6019.5%–

41Harnett County, NCNC150,1379.5%–

42Granville County, NCNC61,4219.6%–

43Rutherford County, NCNC65,7459.8%–

44Swain County, NCNC14,0249.9%–

45Davidson County, NCNC180,18210.0%–

46Yancey County, NCNC19,08410.0%–

47Graham County, NCNC8,19010.0%–

48Camden County, NCNC11,31510.1%–

49Lincoln County, NCNC98,65410.5%–

50Burke County, NCNC88,65510.6%–

51Brunswick County, NCNC174,70210.7%–

52Hertford County, NCNC19,01510.7%–

53Gaston County, NCNC246,55810.8%–

54Beaufort County, NCNC44,67010.8%–

55Robeson County, NCNC119,94111.0%–

56Johnston County, NCNC256,44811.1%–

57Cleveland County, NCNC103,32511.1%–

58Madison County, NCNC22,55311.3%–

59Lenoir County, NCNC55,83711.5%–

60Pender County, NCNC72,11111.6%–

61Pamlico County, NCNC12,75811.6%–

62Rowan County, NCNC155,09611.7%–

63Iredell County, NCNC211,79811.8%–

64Chowan County, NCNC14,08212.2%–

65Cabarrus County, NCNC249,72512.3%–

66Avery County, NCNC18,11012.4%–

67Clay County, NCNC12,23912.6%–

68Wayne County, NCNC122,27812.7%–

69Haywood County, NCNC63,36912.8%–

70Union County, NCNC267,67413.2%–

71Macon County, NCNC39,23213.2%–

72Onslow County, NCNC217,17513.4%–

73Scotland County, NCNC33,32213.6%–

74Nash County, NCNC99,36513.7%–

75Catawba County, NCNC170,17214.2%–

76Lee County, NCNC70,25814.3%–

77Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20114.4%–

78Wilson County, NCNC81,15014.4%–

79Alamance County, NCNC186,17714.6%–

80Davie County, NCNC45,85514.7%–

81Craven County, NCNC105,02515.1%–

82Carteret County, NCNC70,46916.2%–

83Cumberland County, NCNC338,47316.6%–

84Transylvania County, NCNC34,21117.9%–

85Buncombe County, NCNC277,41719.1%–

86Henderson County, NCNC122,37519.5%–

87Chatham County, NCNC85,11119.5%–

88Jackson County, NCNC45,03919.7%–

89Moore County, NCNC110,61919.9%–

90Polk County, NCNC20,53320.1%–

91New Hanover County, NCNC245,95921.2%–

92Dare County, NCNC38,24521.4%–

93Pitt County, NCNC182,93621.9%–

94Forsyth County, NCNC401,71824.1%–

95Guilford County, NCNC562,23424.8%–

96Watauga County, NCNC54,78627.4%–

97Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,38328.3%–

98Durham County, NCNC347,24033.4%–

99Wake County, NCNC1,257,23535.3%–

100Orange County, NCNC152,49846.1%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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