RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most educated, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2020 ACS). This list covers the 174 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, NCNC6,04979.8%–

02Marvin, NCNC7,04077.7%+17.0 pts

03Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.9%+3.2 pts

04Davidson, NCNC16,66273.8%+12.2 pts

05Morrisville, NCNC32,46670.0%+14.5 pts

06Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.7%+8.8 pts

07Cary, NCNC183,58268.6%+7.9 pts

08St. James, NCNC7,31866.1%+10.3 pts

09Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.5%+41.5 pts

10Porters Neck, NCNC7,65462.5%–

11Apex, NCNC80,41962.3%+3.6 pts

12Weddington, NCNC14,51762.1%+15.7 pts

13Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49461.2%+38.2 pts

14Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.7%+10.8 pts

15Holly Springs, NCNC50,28859.6%+8.9 pts

16Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.6%+9.9 pts

17Black Mountain, NCNC8,49157.1%+27.8 pts

18Hillsborough, NCNC9,77856.8%+31.7 pts

19Summerfield, NCNC11,32755.7%+17.8 pts

20Wake Forest, NCNC58,14755.5%+12.4 pts

21Southern Pines, NCNC17,35755.0%+19.0 pts

22Waxhaw, NCNC23,14054.6%+24.7 pts

23Cornelius, NCNC35,09454.4%+4.9 pts

24Huntersville, NCNC68,53553.9%+7.4 pts

25Matthews, NCNC32,76953.7%+11.5 pts

26Elon, NCNC11,36653.0%–

27Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50551.7%+2.9 pts

28Raleigh, NCNC506,30651.4%+6.6 pts

29Durham, NCNC305,56151.2%+9.4 pts

30Harrisburg, NCNC20,74251.0%+23.6 pts

31Ogden, NCNC8,24950.3%+10.6 pts

32Asheville, NCNC93,52349.9%+19.5 pts

33Westport, NCNC5,91549.9%+2.2 pts

34Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89649.8%+9.6 pts

35Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.5%+7.5 pts

36Spout Springs, NCNC11,24248.3%–

37Boone, NCNC19,92948.1%+1.7 pts

38Surf City, NCNC5,14247.0%+18.3 pts

39Stallings, NCNC17,76047.0%+29.4 pts

40Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53646.4%+19.3 pts

41Winterville, NCNC10,97345.5%+16.8 pts

42Charlotte, NCNC964,78444.8%+8.3 pts

43Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63744.3%+14.9 pts

44Garner, NCNC41,56244.1%+15.9 pts

45Wilmington, NCNC126,80943.9%+13.0 pts

46Lewisville, NCNC14,42143.5%+3.5 pts

47Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87043.3%+19.8 pts

48Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.0%+9.3 pts

49Belmont, NCNC16,41542.1%+20.0 pts

50Pineville, NCNC11,85141.7%+11.0 pts

51Mooresville, NCNC55,84241.7%+18.9 pts

52Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56641.6%+10.8 pts

53Hampstead, NCNC9,29241.6%–

54Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.9%+18.3 pts

55Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90840.8%+33.7 pts

56Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+12.7 pts

57Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90640.2%–

58Mills River, NCNC7,50439.6%–

59Oak Island, NCNC9,33739.6%+20.5 pts

60Greensboro, NCNC308,66739.4%+5.5 pts

61Cramerton, NCNC5,71338.7%+12.9 pts

62Indian Trail, NCNC44,30338.6%+16.4 pts

63Concord, NCNC114,59838.3%+15.4 pts

64Greenville, NCNC96,44337.8%−0.5 pts

65Leland, NCNC35,73137.4%+23.4 pts

66Woodfin, NCNC8,22937.0%+21.8 pts

67Gibsonville, NCNC9,87636.5%+12.8 pts

68Hendersonville, NCNC15,86736.1%+5.7 pts

69Aberdeen, NCNC10,06636.0%+14.7 pts

70Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73135.8%+8.8 pts

71Mebane, NCNC21,95235.7%+7.3 pts

72Murraysville, NCNC16,33935.5%+6.5 pts

73Creedmoor, NCNC5,04635.3%+14.0 pts

74Hickory, NCNC45,97535.0%+6.9 pts

75Brevard, NCNC8,09834.9%+8.6 pts

76Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27134.3%+3.9 pts

77Morehead City, NCNC10,43433.3%+12.5 pts

78Northchase, NCNC5,89633.2%–

79Stokesdale, NCNC6,13332.8%+9.6 pts

80Fletcher, NCNC8,37332.7%+5.5 pts

81High Point, NCNC120,57132.2%+6.7 pts

82Mount Holly, NCNC19,03332.0%+17.2 pts

83Kernersville, NCNC29,12832.0%+6.1 pts

84Midland, NCNC5,15131.1%–

85Clayton, NCNC32,63330.7%+7.3 pts

86Moyock, NCNC5,68430.6%–

87Silver Lake, NCNC6,56329.8%+5.7 pts

88Wendell, NCNC19,68729.6%+10.2 pts

89Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92728.8%–

90Waynesville, NCNC11,00628.0%+10.8 pts

91New Bern, NCNC34,72427.7%+4.7 pts

92Spring Lake, NCNC11,25227.4%+18.9 pts

93Kings Grant, NCNC9,00327.3%+4.6 pts

94Fayetteville, NCNC209,12027.3%+3.2 pts

95Etowah, NCNC7,96827.2%+6.7 pts

96Statesville, NCNC32,18127.1%+7.6 pts

97Nashville, NCNC5,91127.0%+11.8 pts

98Shelby, NCNC23,30926.8%+8.8 pts

99Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62226.8%+9.3 pts

100Walkertown, NCNC6,12026.7%+14.5 pts

101Midway, NCNC5,10426.3%–

102Burlington, NCNC61,49626.2%+4.6 pts

103Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+9.4 pts

104Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64925.8%–

105Angier, NCNC9,41025.7%+11.0 pts

106Gastonia, NCNC87,06725.6%+5.4 pts

107Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.0%+0.9 pts

108Jacksonville, NCNC72,73225.0%+7.1 pts

109Tarboro, NCNC10,97924.9%+7.9 pts

110Kannapolis, NCNC61,70824.9%+12.9 pts

111Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.8%+0.7 pts

112King, NCNC7,97724.7%+6.6 pts

113Smithfield, NCNC13,11424.2%+5.9 pts

114Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16523.8%+2.7 pts

115Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54023.7%−3.3 pts

116Locust, NCNC6,12023.2%+12.8 pts

117Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+2.9 pts

118Wilson, NCNC49,57222.8%+3.7 pts

119Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+4.3 pts

120Oxford, NCNC8,98522.5%+3.7 pts

121Hope Mills, NCNC18,32422.1%+7.2 pts

122Piney Green, NCNC14,07822.0%+3.9 pts

123Washington, NCNC9,91021.8%+1.0 pts

124Lumberton, NCNC18,95521.6%+1.2 pts

125Sanford, NCNC34,13821.3%+2.6 pts

126Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12021.1%+1.0 pts

127Cherryville, NCNC6,52320.8%+8.2 pts

128Graham, NCNC20,13120.7%+4.0 pts

129Morganton, NCNC17,84920.6%−0.2 pts

130Conover, NCNC8,93820.6%+2.2 pts

131Goldsboro, NCNC35,01220.5%+3.3 pts

132Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38620.3%+5.3 pts

133St. Stephens, NCNC9,45720.2%+8.5 pts

134Butner, NCNC8,11220.1%+10.4 pts

135Zebulon, NCNC11,93320.0%+4.3 pts

136Mocksville, NCNC6,28219.9%+1.5 pts

137Newton, NCNC13,82219.8%+4.7 pts

138Laurinburg, NCNC14,58219.8%−2.0 pts

139Dunn, NCNC8,81419.2%+2.3 pts

140Trinity, NCNC7,27419.2%+6.6 pts

141Archdale, NCNC12,25419.1%+5.6 pts

142Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.1%+3.8 pts

143Reidsville, NCNC14,69218.5%+2.9 pts

144Asheboro, NCNC27,99018.0%+1.2 pts

145Monroe, NCNC42,64417.8%+2.2 pts

146Lenoir, NCNC18,37217.6%+4.3 pts

147Henderson, NCNC15,01317.3%+2.7 pts

148Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28717.3%+4.3 pts

149Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.2%−0.4 pts

150Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.2%−0.1 pts

151Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.1%+5.3 pts

152Forest City, NCNC7,41017.0%+7.4 pts

153Ayden, NCNC5,26316.8%+3.3 pts

154Half Moon, NCNC7,37816.7%+0.7 pts

155Kinston, NCNC19,70516.7%+0.1 pts

156Swannanoa, NCNC6,90116.3%+4.0 pts

157Marion, NCNC7,44016.1%+1.0 pts

158Williamston, NCNC5,08616.0%+2.7 pts

159Eden, NCNC15,50015.8%+4.7 pts

160Havelock, NCNC17,43015.6%+0.3 pts

161Lillington, NCNC5,04014.2%+1.0 pts

162Lexington, NCNC20,23814.1%+0.2 pts

163East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32313.9%+7.1 pts

164Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.8%+4.2 pts

165Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.2%+5.5 pts

166Dallas, NCNC6,39213.1%+4.1 pts

167Siler City, NCNC8,15513.0%+4.7 pts

168Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87512.5%−2.7 pts

169Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.9%+0.5 pts

170Selma, NCNC7,40611.5%+1.4 pts

171Sawmills, NCNC5,10510.4%+2.5 pts

172Wadesboro, NCNC5,0359.4%−6.2 pts

173Bessemer City, NCNC5,8348.9%+1.2 pts

174Long View, NCNC5,3878.6%+1.8 pts

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS