RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Most educated, North Carolina cities · 2010

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2010 ACS). This list covers the 170 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

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56575.1%+2%

02Morrisville, NCNC32,46668.1%+23%

03Davidson, NCNC16,66268.0%+10%

04Marvin, NCNC7,04065.8%+8%

05St. James, NCNC7,31863.6%+14%

06Carrboro, NCNC20,96263.3%+4%

07Cary, NCNC183,58262.3%+3%

08Apex, NCNC80,41958.4%−1%

09Cullowhee, NCNC7,97356.1%+15%

10Porters Neck, NCNC7,65456.0%–

11Weddington, NCNC14,51755.0%+19%

12Holly Springs, NCNC50,28852.8%+4%

13Ogden, NCNC8,24952.6%+32%

14Westport, NCNC5,91552.0%+9%

15Cornelius, NCNC35,09451.9%+5%

16Huntersville, NCNC68,53551.4%+11%

17Surf City, NCNC5,14251.3%+79%

18Summerfield, NCNC11,32750.7%+34%

19Wake Forest, NCNC58,14750.2%+17%

20Waxhaw, NCNC23,14047.9%+60%

21Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89647.4%+18%

22Matthews, NCNC32,76947.0%+11%

23Raleigh, NCNC506,30646.6%+4%

24Boone, NCNC19,92946.2%−1%

25Durham, NCNC305,56145.6%+9%

26Clemmons, NCNC22,80845.6%+8%

27Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50545.3%−7%

28Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.7%+30%

29Pinehurst, NCNC18,67043.5%−13%

30Elon, NCNC11,36642.2%–

31Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63741.6%+42%

32Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87040.7%+73%

33Lewisville, NCNC14,42140.1%+0%

34Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56639.8%+29%

35Southern Pines, NCNC17,35739.3%+9%

36Charlotte, NCNC964,78439.1%+7%

37Stallings, NCNC17,76038.6%+120%

38Asheville, NCNC93,52338.4%+26%

39Harrisburg, NCNC20,74238.3%+40%

40Wilmington, NCNC126,80936.2%+17%

41Greenville, NCNC96,44336.1%−6%

42Hillsborough, NCNC9,77836.0%+44%

43Belmont, NCNC16,41536.0%+63%

44Winterville, NCNC10,97336.0%+25%

45Greensboro, NCNC308,66735.4%+4%

46Black Mountain, NCNC8,49135.1%+20%

47Garner, NCNC41,56234.1%+21%

48Leland, NCNC35,73133.6%+141%

49Fletcher, NCNC8,37333.6%+23%

50Indian Trail, NCNC44,30333.4%+50%

51Mebane, NCNC21,95233.2%+17%

52Clayton, NCNC32,63333.1%+41%

53Cramerton, NCNC5,71332.8%+27%

54Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53632.7%+20%

55Pittsboro, NCNC5,05432.6%+45%

56Rolesville, NCNC12,83932.6%+55%

57Gibsonville, NCNC9,87632.4%+36%

58Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27131.8%+5%

59Brevard, NCNC8,09830.9%+18%

60Mint Hill, NCNC29,47630.9%+12%

61Shallotte, NCNC5,33530.3%+25%

62Hendersonville, NCNC15,86729.7%−3%

63Woodfin, NCNC8,22929.6%+95%

64Pineville, NCNC11,85129.6%−4%

65Hickory, NCNC45,97529.2%+4%

66Northchase, NCNC5,89629.2%–

67High Point, NCNC120,57129.1%+14%

68Murraysville, NCNC16,33928.8%−1%

69Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49428.6%+24%

70Kernersville, NCNC29,12828.1%+9%

71Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73128.1%+4%

72Stokesdale, NCNC6,13327.9%+20%

73Mills River, NCNC7,50427.4%–

74Mount Holly, NCNC19,03327.2%+84%

75Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54027.0%+0%

76Morehead City, NCNC10,43426.2%+26%

77Wendell, NCNC19,68726.2%+35%

78Mount Airy, NCNC10,68225.9%+29%

79Concord, NCNC114,59825.8%+13%

80Mooresville, NCNC55,84225.8%+13%

81Kings Grant, NCNC9,00325.2%+11%

82Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.1%+4%

83New Bern, NCNC34,72424.6%+7%

84Oak Island, NCNC9,33724.2%+27%

85Fayetteville, NCNC209,12023.9%−1%

86Washington, NCNC9,91023.6%+13%

87Burlington, NCNC61,49623.5%+8%

88Jacksonville, NCNC72,73223.3%+31%

89Waynesville, NCNC11,00623.3%+35%

90Mocksville, NCNC6,28223.1%+26%

91Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+23%

92Gastonia, NCNC87,06722.7%+12%

93Hampstead, NCNC9,29222.7%–

94Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16522.2%+5%

95Wilson, NCNC49,57222.1%+15%

96Shelby, NCNC23,30921.7%+20%

97Etowah, NCNC7,96821.6%+6%

98Aberdeen, NCNC10,06621.5%+1%

99Statesville, NCNC32,18121.4%+10%

100Morganton, NCNC17,84921.3%+2%

101Conover, NCNC8,93821.1%+14%

102Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62220.9%+20%

103Smithfield, NCNC13,11420.9%+14%

104Silver Lake, NCNC6,56320.6%−15%

105Sanford, NCNC34,13820.5%+10%

106Nashville, NCNC5,91120.4%+34%

107Piney Green, NCNC14,07820.4%+12%

108Angier, NCNC9,41020.0%+36%

109Half Moon, NCNC7,37819.9%+25%

110Cherryville, NCNC6,52319.7%+56%

111Midway, NCNC5,10419.6%–

112Lumberton, NCNC18,95519.5%−4%

113Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64919.4%–

114Lincolnton, NCNC12,46519.2%+9%

115Walkertown, NCNC6,12018.8%+54%

116Albemarle, NCNC17,76918.8%+9%

117Moyock, NCNC5,68418.7%–

118Lillington, NCNC5,04018.7%+41%

119Goldsboro, NCNC35,01218.5%+8%

120King, NCNC7,97718.5%+2%

121Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12018.5%−8%

122Laurinburg, NCNC14,58218.4%−15%

123Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87517.8%+18%

124Dallas, NCNC6,39217.8%+97%

125Graham, NCNC20,13117.7%+6%

126Spring Lake, NCNC11,25217.6%+106%

127Asheboro, NCNC27,99017.5%+4%

128Tarboro, NCNC10,97917.5%+3%

129Williamston, NCNC5,08617.5%+31%

130Hope Mills, NCNC18,32417.2%+15%

131Newton, NCNC13,82216.9%+12%

132Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28716.5%+27%

133Oxford, NCNC8,98516.4%−13%

134Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11716.2%+37%

135Monroe, NCNC42,64416.0%+2%

136Kannapolis, NCNC61,70815.7%+31%

137Midland, NCNC5,15115.6%–

138Ayden, NCNC5,26315.6%+15%

139Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38615.5%+4%

140Marion, NCNC7,44015.4%+2%

141Creedmoor, NCNC5,04615.1%−29%

142Kinston, NCNC19,70515.1%−9%

143Locust, NCNC6,12015.0%+44%

144Archdale, NCNC12,25414.9%+11%

145Reidsville, NCNC14,69214.9%−5%

146Dunn, NCNC8,81414.9%−12%

147Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90814.8%+107%

148Unionville, NCNC7,32214.5%−12%

149Lenoir, NCNC18,37214.4%+8%

150Swannanoa, NCNC6,90113.3%+9%

151Henderson, NCNC15,01313.0%−11%

152Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.0%+35%

153Sawmills, NCNC5,10512.5%+58%

154Lexington, NCNC20,23812.2%−13%

155East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32312.0%+76%

156Havelock, NCNC17,43011.9%−22%

157Butner, NCNC8,11211.2%+16%

158Rockingham, NCNC8,81511.0%−28%

159Long View, NCNC5,38710.6%+56%

160Trinity, NCNC7,27410.6%−16%

161St. Stephens, NCNC9,45710.4%−11%

162Siler City, NCNC8,15510.4%+25%

163Hamlet, NCNC5,87010.3%−10%

164Wadesboro, NCNC5,03510.2%−35%

165Zebulon, NCNC11,93310.1%−36%

166Roxboro, NCNC8,38010.0%+29%

167Eden, NCNC15,5009.1%−18%

168Selma, NCNC7,4068.3%−17%

169Forest City, NCNC7,4108.3%−13%

170Bessemer City, NCNC5,8347.4%−4%

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

Download CSV (full list, 170 rows)

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