RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Most educated, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). This list covers the 175 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

01Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04981.6%–

02Marvin, NCNC7,04079.9%+19.2 pts

03Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.6%+2.9 pts

04Davidson, NCNC16,66275.8%+14.1 pts

05Morrisville, NCNC32,46672.7%+17.2 pts

06Cary, NCNC183,58270.5%+9.8 pts

07Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.9%+9.1 pts

08Apex, NCNC80,41969.5%+10.8 pts

09St. James, NCNC7,31868.3%+12.5 pts

10Weddington, NCNC14,51768.0%+21.6 pts

11Holly Springs, NCNC50,28867.3%+16.6 pts

12Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49467.2%+44.3 pts

13Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50567.0%+18.2 pts

14Porters Neck, NCNC7,65466.5%–

15Cornelius, NCNC35,09462.2%+12.8 pts

16Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.1%+41.2 pts

17Hillsborough, NCNC9,77861.4%+36.3 pts

18Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.9%+11.0 pts

19Wake Forest, NCNC58,14759.5%+16.5 pts

20Summerfield, NCNC11,32759.5%+21.6 pts

21Huntersville, NCNC68,53557.5%+11.1 pts

22Durham, NCNC305,56157.3%+15.5 pts

23Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89657.0%+16.8 pts

24Boone, NCNC19,92956.8%+10.4 pts

25Harrisburg, NCNC20,74256.5%+29.0 pts

26Black Mountain, NCNC8,49156.3%+26.9 pts

27Matthews, NCNC32,76955.2%+12.9 pts

28Waxhaw, NCNC23,14055.0%+25.1 pts

29Raleigh, NCNC506,30654.0%+9.1 pts

30Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53654.0%+26.8 pts

31Stallings, NCNC17,76053.7%+36.2 pts

32Asheville, NCNC93,52353.4%+23.0 pts

33Southern Pines, NCNC17,35752.9%+17.0 pts

34Surf City, NCNC5,14251.6%+22.9 pts

35Elon, NCNC11,36651.5%–

36Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90851.4%+44.3 pts

37Belmont, NCNC16,41551.1%+29.1 pts

38Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87050.5%+26.9 pts

39Ogden, NCNC8,24949.5%+9.8 pts

40Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.4%+7.3 pts

41Knightdale, NCNC23,14448.9%+15.2 pts

42Charlotte, NCNC964,78448.0%+11.5 pts

43Lewisville, NCNC14,42147.8%+7.8 pts

44Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56647.7%+16.9 pts

45Wilmington, NCNC126,80946.8%+15.8 pts

46Garner, NCNC41,56246.5%+18.3 pts

47Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63746.4%+17.0 pts

48Cramerton, NCNC5,71346.2%+20.4 pts

49Woodfin, NCNC8,22945.9%+30.7 pts

50Murraysville, NCNC16,33945.7%+16.7 pts

51Mooresville, NCNC55,84245.5%+22.7 pts

52Westport, NCNC5,91545.4%−2.3 pts

53Pineville, NCNC11,85144.9%+14.2 pts

54Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73144.8%+17.8 pts

55Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90644.0%–

56Mills River, NCNC7,50443.7%–

57Leland, NCNC35,73143.7%+29.8 pts

58Oak Island, NCNC9,33743.6%+24.6 pts

59Brevard, NCNC8,09843.5%+17.2 pts

60Stokesdale, NCNC6,13343.2%+20.0 pts

61Spout Springs, NCNC11,24241.4%–

62Winterville, NCNC10,97341.2%+12.4 pts

63Greensboro, NCNC308,66741.0%+7.0 pts

64Concord, NCNC114,59840.9%+18.1 pts

65Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.8%+18.3 pts

66Mebane, NCNC21,95240.4%+12.1 pts

67Clayton, NCNC32,63340.4%+17.0 pts

68Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+12.7 pts

69Indian Trail, NCNC44,30340.2%+18.0 pts

70Fletcher, NCNC8,37339.8%+12.6 pts

71Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27139.5%+9.2 pts

72Greenville, NCNC96,44339.1%+0.7 pts

73Etowah, NCNC7,96839.0%+18.6 pts

74Hampstead, NCNC9,29238.3%–

75Cullowhee, NCNC7,97338.2%−10.4 pts

76Wendell, NCNC19,68738.2%+18.9 pts

77Hendersonville, NCNC15,86738.1%+7.7 pts

78Gibsonville, NCNC9,87637.1%+13.3 pts

79Hickory, NCNC45,97537.1%+9.0 pts

80Kernersville, NCNC29,12837.0%+11.1 pts

81Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64936.9%–

82Mount Holly, NCNC19,03336.7%+21.9 pts

83Morehead City, NCNC10,43435.6%+14.8 pts

84Northchase, NCNC5,89635.2%–

85Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92735.0%–

86High Point, NCNC120,57134.0%+8.5 pts

87Waynesville, NCNC11,00632.9%+15.8 pts

88Midland, NCNC5,15132.9%–

89Silver Lake, NCNC6,56332.2%+8.0 pts

90Angier, NCNC9,41032.0%+17.3 pts

91Aberdeen, NCNC10,06631.9%+10.5 pts

92Moyock, NCNC5,68431.6%–

93Zebulon, NCNC11,93330.9%+15.3 pts

94Walkertown, NCNC6,12030.3%+18.1 pts

95Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16530.1%+9.0 pts

96Salisbury, NCNC36,87929.9%+5.8 pts

97Kannapolis, NCNC61,70829.7%+17.7 pts

98Burlington, NCNC61,49629.6%+7.9 pts

99New Bern, NCNC34,72429.4%+6.4 pts

100Fayetteville, NCNC209,12029.0%+4.8 pts

101Creedmoor, NCNC5,04628.9%+7.6 pts

102Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54027.6%+0.7 pts

103Swannanoa, NCNC6,90127.4%+15.2 pts

104Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62227.2%+9.8 pts

105Half Moon, NCNC7,37827.0%+11.0 pts

106Butner, NCNC8,11227.0%+17.2 pts

107Statesville, NCNC32,18126.9%+7.4 pts

108Smithfield, NCNC13,11426.7%+8.3 pts

109Shelby, NCNC23,30926.6%+8.6 pts

110Gastonia, NCNC87,06726.6%+6.4 pts

111Tarboro, NCNC10,97926.5%+9.5 pts

112Jacksonville, NCNC72,73226.3%+8.4 pts

113Morganton, NCNC17,84926.1%+5.3 pts

114Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28725.9%+13.0 pts

115Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+9.4 pts

116St. Stephens, NCNC9,45725.7%+14.1 pts

117Spring Lake, NCNC11,25225.2%+16.7 pts

118Kings Grant, NCNC9,00325.2%+2.4 pts

119Cherryville, NCNC6,52324.8%+12.2 pts

120Graham, NCNC20,13124.7%+8.0 pts

121Mocksville, NCNC6,28224.7%+6.3 pts

122Wilson, NCNC49,57224.5%+5.3 pts

123Piney Green, NCNC14,07824.2%+6.0 pts

124Monroe, NCNC42,64424.1%+8.5 pts

125Lincolnton, NCNC12,46524.0%+6.5 pts

126Washington, NCNC9,91024.0%+3.1 pts

127Conover, NCNC8,93823.8%+5.4 pts

128Clinton, NCNC8,46623.8%+5.3 pts

129Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87523.6%+8.5 pts

130Hope Mills, NCNC18,32423.4%+8.4 pts

131Shallotte, NCNC5,33523.1%−1.1 pts

132Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+2.9 pts

133Ayden, NCNC5,26323.0%+9.5 pts

134Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12022.9%+2.8 pts

135Archdale, NCNC12,25422.9%+9.4 pts

136King, NCNC7,97722.8%+4.7 pts

137Midway, NCNC5,10422.5%–

138Locust, NCNC6,12022.5%+12.1 pts

139Barbecue, NCNC5,91022.1%–

140Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38622.0%+7.0 pts

141Reidsville, NCNC14,69221.8%+6.2 pts

142Sanford, NCNC34,13821.6%+3.0 pts

143Dallas, NCNC6,39221.2%+12.2 pts

144Lenoir, NCNC18,37221.2%+7.9 pts

145Goldsboro, NCNC35,01221.0%+3.8 pts

146Newton, NCNC13,82221.0%+5.8 pts

147Dunn, NCNC8,81420.9%+4.1 pts

148Albemarle, NCNC17,76920.4%+3.1 pts

149Laurinburg, NCNC14,58220.1%−1.7 pts

150Trinity, NCNC7,27420.1%+7.6 pts

151Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.7%+4.4 pts

152Lillington, NCNC5,04019.3%+6.0 pts

153Oxford, NCNC8,98519.2%+0.4 pts

154Lumberton, NCNC18,95519.2%−1.2 pts

155Asheboro, NCNC27,99019.1%+2.2 pts

156Havelock, NCNC17,43018.7%+3.4 pts

157Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.8%+5.9 pts

158East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32317.3%+10.5 pts

159Wadesboro, NCNC5,03516.9%+1.3 pts

160Siler City, NCNC8,15516.8%+8.5 pts

161Kinston, NCNC19,70516.4%−0.2 pts

162Nashville, NCNC5,91116.3%+1.1 pts

163Bessemer City, NCNC5,83416.1%+8.4 pts

164Marion, NCNC7,44015.6%+0.4 pts

165Hamlet, NCNC5,87015.5%+4.1 pts

166Henderson, NCNC15,01315.5%+0.8 pts

167Thomasville, NCNC27,73315.3%+5.7 pts

168Forest City, NCNC7,41014.7%+5.1 pts

169Williamston, NCNC5,08614.3%+1.0 pts

170Roxboro, NCNC8,38014.1%+6.3 pts

171Selma, NCNC7,40613.8%+3.7 pts

172Lexington, NCNC20,23812.9%−1.1 pts

173Sawmills, NCNC5,10512.7%+4.8 pts

174Eden, NCNC15,50011.9%+0.8 pts

175Long View, NCNC5,3877.9%+1.0 pts

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES