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.

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North CarolinaAll states All rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

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 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS