RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Most educated, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2000 ACS). This list covers the 161 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 1990

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56573.7%+4%

02Davidson, NCNC16,66261.6%+19%

03Carrboro, NCNC20,96260.9%+7%

04Cary, NCNC183,58260.7%+24%

05Marvin, NCNC7,04060.7%–

06Apex, NCNC80,41958.8%+68%

07St. James, NCNC7,31855.8%–

08Morrisville, NCNC32,46655.5%+103%

09Holly Springs, NCNC50,28850.7%+532%

10Pinehurst, NCNC18,67049.9%+9%

11Cornelius, NCNC35,09449.4%+139%

12Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50548.8%+21%

13Cullowhee, NCNC7,97348.7%+6%

14Westport, NCNC5,91547.7%+3%

15Boone, NCNC19,92946.5%+7%

16Huntersville, NCNC68,53546.5%+99%

17Weddington, NCNC14,51746.4%+11%

18Raleigh, NCNC506,30644.9%+11%

19Wake Forest, NCNC58,14743.0%+39%

20Matthews, NCNC32,76942.3%+11%

21Clemmons, NCNC22,80842.1%+7%

22Durham, NCNC305,56141.8%+18%

23Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89640.2%–

24Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.0%+61%

25Ogden, NCNC8,24939.7%+69%

26Greenville, NCNC96,44338.4%+14%

27Summerfield, NCNC11,32737.9%+154%

28Charlotte, NCNC964,78436.4%+28%

29Southern Pines, NCNC17,35736.0%+38%

30Greensboro, NCNC308,66733.9%+13%

31Knightdale, NCNC23,14433.7%+7%

32Wilmington, NCNC126,80931.0%+49%

33Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56630.8%–

34Pineville, NCNC11,85130.7%+91%

35Hendersonville, NCNC15,86730.5%+42%

36Asheville, NCNC93,52330.4%+32%

37Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27130.3%+11%

38Waxhaw, NCNC23,14029.9%+74%

39Black Mountain, NCNC8,49129.4%+9%

40Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63729.3%+52%

41Murraysville, NCNC16,33929.0%–

42Winterville, NCNC10,97328.8%+138%

43Surf City, NCNC5,14228.7%+3%

44Mebane, NCNC21,95228.3%+81%

45Garner, NCNC41,56228.2%+20%

46Hickory, NCNC45,97528.0%+20%

47Mint Hill, NCNC29,47627.6%+40%

48Harrisburg, NCNC20,74227.4%+86%

49Fletcher, NCNC8,37327.2%+59%

50Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53627.1%+82%

51Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73127.0%+47%

52Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54026.9%–

53Brevard, NCNC8,09826.3%+28%

54Kernersville, NCNC29,12825.9%+53%

55Cramerton, NCNC5,71325.8%+55%

56High Point, NCNC120,57125.5%+41%

57Hillsborough, NCNC9,77825.0%+40%

58Fayetteville, NCNC209,12024.2%+2%

59Silver Lake, NCNC6,56324.1%+80%

60Salisbury, NCNC36,87924.1%+17%

61Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.1%+27%

62Gibsonville, NCNC9,87623.8%+74%

63Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87023.6%+25%

64Clayton, NCNC32,63323.4%+64%

65Stokesdale, NCNC6,13323.2%+161%

66New Bern, NCNC34,72423.0%+44%

67Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49423.0%–

68Concord, NCNC114,59822.8%+55%

69Mooresville, NCNC55,84222.8%+81%

70Kings Grant, NCNC9,00322.7%–

71Pittsboro, NCNC5,05422.5%+30%

72Indian Trail, NCNC44,30322.2%+106%

73Belmont, NCNC16,41522.0%+92%

74Laurinburg, NCNC14,58221.8%+44%

75Burlington, NCNC61,49621.7%+13%

76Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.3%+24%

77Creedmoor, NCNC5,04621.3%+72%

78Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16521.1%+29%

79Rolesville, NCNC12,83921.0%+32%

80Washington, NCNC9,91020.8%+45%

81Morehead City, NCNC10,43420.8%+57%

82Morganton, NCNC17,84920.8%+11%

83Etowah, NCNC7,96820.5%+88%

84Lumberton, NCNC18,95520.4%+10%

85Gastonia, NCNC87,06720.2%+26%

86Mount Airy, NCNC10,68220.2%+60%

87Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12020.1%+21%

88Statesville, NCNC32,18119.5%+24%

89Wendell, NCNC19,68719.3%+17%

90Wilson, NCNC49,57219.2%+4%

91Oak Island, NCNC9,33719.0%–

92Oxford, NCNC8,98518.8%+30%

93Sanford, NCNC34,13818.6%+26%

94Conover, NCNC8,93818.5%−7%

95Clinton, NCNC8,46618.4%+20%

96Mocksville, NCNC6,28218.4%+27%

97Smithfield, NCNC13,11418.3%−8%

98Piney Green, NCNC14,07818.1%+100%

99King, NCNC7,97718.1%+60%

100Shelby, NCNC23,30918.0%+14%

101Jacksonville, NCNC72,73217.8%−2%

102Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.6%+40%

103Stallings, NCNC17,76017.5%+138%

104Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62217.4%+17%

105Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.3%+38%

106Waynesville, NCNC11,00617.2%+7%

107Goldsboro, NCNC35,01217.2%+7%

108Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.0%+8%

109Dunn, NCNC8,81416.8%+28%

110Asheboro, NCNC27,99016.8%+10%

111Graham, NCNC20,13116.7%+29%

112Kinston, NCNC19,70516.6%+8%

113Unionville, NCNC7,32216.4%–

114Half Moon, NCNC7,37815.9%+27%

115Zebulon, NCNC11,93315.7%+22%

116Reidsville, NCNC14,69215.6%+2%

117Monroe, NCNC42,64415.6%+7%

118Wadesboro, NCNC5,03515.6%−1%

119Havelock, NCNC17,43015.3%+18%

120Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.3%−0%

121Nashville, NCNC5,91115.2%+1%

122Woodfin, NCNC8,22915.2%+58%

123Marion, NCNC7,44015.1%+30%

124Newton, NCNC13,82215.1%+24%

125Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87515.1%+6%

126Hope Mills, NCNC18,32415.0%+29%

127Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.0%+26%

128Mount Holly, NCNC19,03314.8%+59%

129Angier, NCNC9,41014.7%+43%

130Henderson, NCNC15,01314.6%+23%

131Lexington, NCNC20,23814.0%+13%

132Leland, NCNC35,73114.0%+449%

133Ayden, NCNC5,26313.5%+40%

134Archdale, NCNC12,25413.5%+33%

135Lenoir, NCNC18,37213.3%+14%

136Williamston, NCNC5,08613.3%+3%

137Lillington, NCNC5,04013.2%−17%

138Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28713.0%+24%

139Cherryville, NCNC6,52312.6%+23%

140Trinity, NCNC7,27412.5%+63%

141Swannanoa, NCNC6,90112.2%+93%

142Walkertown, NCNC6,12012.2%+24%

143Kannapolis, NCNC61,70812.0%+55%

144Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11711.8%+24%

145St. Stephens, NCNC9,45711.7%+25%

146Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.4%+51%

147Eden, NCNC15,50011.1%+25%

148Locust, NCNC6,12010.4%+86%

149Selma, NCNC7,40610.1%−4%

150Butner, NCNC8,1129.7%+74%

151Thomasville, NCNC27,7339.6%−2%

152Forest City, NCNC7,4109.6%+1%

153Dallas, NCNC6,3929.0%+1%

154Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.5%−8%

155Siler City, NCNC8,1558.3%−6%

156Sawmills, NCNC5,1057.9%+110%

157Roxboro, NCNC8,3807.8%−0%

158Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.7%+56%

159Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9087.1%+144%

160Long View, NCNC5,3876.8%+1%

161East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3236.8%+15%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

Download CSV (full list, 161 rows)

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