RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most educated, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). This list covers the 151 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 –

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56571.2%–

02Carrboro, NCNC20,96256.7%–

03Davidson, NCNC16,66252.0%–

04Cary, NCNC183,58248.8%–

05Westport, NCNC5,91546.2%–

06Cullowhee, NCNC7,97346.0%–

07Pinehurst, NCNC18,67045.6%–

08Boone, NCNC19,92943.4%–

09Weddington, NCNC14,51741.6%–

10Raleigh, NCNC506,30640.6%–

11Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50540.3%–

12Clemmons, NCNC22,80839.3%–

13Matthews, NCNC32,76938.0%–

14Durham, NCNC305,56135.4%–

15Apex, NCNC80,41934.9%–

16Greenville, NCNC96,44333.7%–

17Knightdale, NCNC23,14431.4%–

18Wake Forest, NCNC58,14730.9%–

19Greensboro, NCNC308,66729.9%–

20Charlotte, NCNC964,78428.4%–

21Surf City, NCNC5,14227.8%–

22Morrisville, NCNC32,46627.3%–

23Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27127.2%–

24Black Mountain, NCNC8,49126.8%–

25Southern Pines, NCNC17,35726.2%–

26Lewisville, NCNC14,42124.9%–

27Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.8%–

28Ogden, NCNC8,24923.6%–

29Garner, NCNC41,56223.4%–

30Hickory, NCNC45,97523.4%–

31Huntersville, NCNC68,53523.4%–

32Asheville, NCNC93,52323.0%–

33Hendersonville, NCNC15,86721.4%–

34Wilmington, NCNC126,80920.7%–

35Salisbury, NCNC36,87920.7%–

36Cornelius, NCNC35,09420.7%–

37Brevard, NCNC8,09820.6%–

38Smithfield, NCNC13,11419.9%–

39Conover, NCNC8,93819.8%–

40Mint Hill, NCNC29,47619.8%–

41Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63719.3%–

42Burlington, NCNC61,49619.2%–

43Shallotte, NCNC5,33519.1%–

44Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87018.8%–

45Morganton, NCNC17,84918.8%–

46Lumberton, NCNC18,95518.5%–

47Wilson, NCNC49,57218.4%–

48Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73118.3%–

49Jacksonville, NCNC72,73218.2%–

50High Point, NCNC120,57118.1%–

51Hillsborough, NCNC9,77817.9%–

52Pittsboro, NCNC5,05417.3%–

53Waxhaw, NCNC23,14017.2%–

54Aberdeen, NCNC10,06617.2%–

55Fletcher, NCNC8,37317.1%–

56Kernersville, NCNC29,12817.0%–

57Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12016.7%–

58Cramerton, NCNC5,71316.6%–

59Wendell, NCNC19,68716.5%–

60Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16516.4%–

61Pineville, NCNC11,85116.1%–

62Waynesville, NCNC11,00616.1%–

63Lillington, NCNC5,04016.0%–

64New Bern, NCNC34,72416.0%–

65Gastonia, NCNC87,06716.0%–

66Goldsboro, NCNC35,01216.0%–

67Rolesville, NCNC12,83915.9%–

68Tarboro, NCNC10,97915.8%–

69Statesville, NCNC32,18115.8%–

70Shelby, NCNC23,30915.8%–

71Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.7%–

72Mebane, NCNC21,95215.6%–

73Kinston, NCNC19,70515.4%–

74Clinton, NCNC8,46615.4%–

75Asheboro, NCNC27,99015.3%–

76Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%–

77Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.3%–

78Laurinburg, NCNC14,58215.1%–

79Nashville, NCNC5,91115.1%–

80Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53614.9%–

81Summerfield, NCNC11,32714.9%–

82Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62214.9%–

83Sanford, NCNC34,13814.8%–

84Concord, NCNC114,59814.8%–

85Harrisburg, NCNC20,74214.7%–

86Monroe, NCNC42,64414.6%–

87Mocksville, NCNC6,28214.4%–

88Oxford, NCNC8,98514.4%–

89Washington, NCNC9,91014.4%–

90Clayton, NCNC32,63314.3%–

91Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87514.2%–

92Gibsonville, NCNC9,87613.6%–

93Silver Lake, NCNC6,56313.4%–

94Morehead City, NCNC10,43413.2%–

95Dunn, NCNC8,81413.1%–

96Graham, NCNC20,13113.0%–

97Havelock, NCNC17,43013.0%–

98Williamston, NCNC5,08613.0%–

99Zebulon, NCNC11,93312.9%–

100Mooresville, NCNC55,84212.6%–

101Mount Airy, NCNC10,68212.6%–

102Lincolnton, NCNC12,46512.6%–

103Half Moon, NCNC7,37812.5%–

104Albemarle, NCNC17,76912.5%–

105Lexington, NCNC20,23812.4%–

106Creedmoor, NCNC5,04612.4%–

107Newton, NCNC13,82212.2%–

108Winterville, NCNC10,97312.1%–

109Henderson, NCNC15,01311.9%–

110Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38611.8%–

111Lenoir, NCNC18,37211.7%–

112Marion, NCNC7,44011.6%–

113Hope Mills, NCNC18,32411.6%–

114Belmont, NCNC16,41511.5%–

115King, NCNC7,97711.3%–

116Etowah, NCNC7,96810.9%–

117Indian Trail, NCNC44,30310.8%–

118Selma, NCNC7,40610.6%–

119Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28710.5%–

120Cherryville, NCNC6,52310.3%–

121Angier, NCNC9,41010.3%–

122Archdale, NCNC12,25410.1%–

123Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.8%–

124Walkertown, NCNC6,1209.8%–

125Woodfin, NCNC8,2299.6%–

126Ayden, NCNC5,2639.6%–

127Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1179.5%–

128Forest City, NCNC7,4109.5%–

129Mount Holly, NCNC19,0339.3%–

130St. Stephens, NCNC9,4579.3%–

131Spring Lake, NCNC11,2529.2%–

132Piney Green, NCNC14,0789.1%–

133Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%–

134Stokesdale, NCNC6,1338.9%–

135Siler City, NCNC8,1558.9%–

136Eden, NCNC15,5008.9%–

137Holly Springs, NCNC50,2888.0%–

138Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%–

139Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087.7%–

140Trinity, NCNC7,2747.7%–

141Hamlet, NCNC5,8707.6%–

142Stallings, NCNC17,7607.4%–

143Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%–

144Swannanoa, NCNC6,9016.4%–

145East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3235.9%–

146Butner, NCNC8,1125.6%–

147Locust, NCNC6,1205.6%–

148Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.9%–

149Sawmills, NCNC5,1053.8%–

150Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9082.9%–

151Leland, NCNC35,7312.5%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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