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.

Flip the list · Least educated, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

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%+28%

03Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56576.9%+4%

04Davidson, NCNC16,66273.8%+20%

05Morrisville, NCNC32,46670.0%+26%

06Carrboro, NCNC20,96269.7%+15%

07Cary, NCNC183,58268.6%+13%

08St. James, NCNC7,31866.1%+19%

09Rolesville, NCNC12,83962.5%+198%

10Porters Neck, NCNC7,65462.5%–

11Apex, NCNC80,41962.3%+6%

12Weddington, NCNC14,51762.1%+34%

13Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49461.2%+166%

14Pinehurst, NCNC18,67060.7%+22%

15Holly Springs, NCNC50,28859.6%+17%

16Cullowhee, NCNC7,97358.6%+20%

17Black Mountain, NCNC8,49157.1%+95%

18Hillsborough, NCNC9,77856.8%+127%

19Summerfield, NCNC11,32755.7%+47%

20Wake Forest, NCNC58,14755.5%+29%

21Southern Pines, NCNC17,35755.0%+53%

22Waxhaw, NCNC23,14054.6%+83%

23Cornelius, NCNC35,09454.4%+10%

24Huntersville, NCNC68,53553.9%+16%

25Matthews, NCNC32,76953.7%+27%

26Elon, NCNC11,36653.0%–

27Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50551.7%+6%

28Raleigh, NCNC506,30651.4%+15%

29Durham, NCNC305,56151.2%+23%

30Harrisburg, NCNC20,74251.0%+86%

31Ogden, NCNC8,24950.3%+27%

32Asheville, NCNC93,52349.9%+64%

33Westport, NCNC5,91549.9%+5%

34Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89649.8%+24%

35Clemmons, NCNC22,80849.5%+18%

36Spout Springs, NCNC11,24248.3%–

37Boone, NCNC19,92948.1%+4%

38Surf City, NCNC5,14247.0%+64%

39Stallings, NCNC17,76047.0%+168%

40Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53646.4%+71%

41Winterville, NCNC10,97345.5%+58%

42Charlotte, NCNC964,78444.8%+23%

43Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63744.3%+51%

44Garner, NCNC41,56244.1%+56%

45Wilmington, NCNC126,80943.9%+42%

46Lewisville, NCNC14,42143.5%+9%

47Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87043.3%+84%

48Knightdale, NCNC23,14443.0%+28%

49Belmont, NCNC16,41542.1%+91%

50Pineville, NCNC11,85141.7%+36%

51Mooresville, NCNC55,84241.7%+83%

52Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56641.6%+35%

53Hampstead, NCNC9,29241.6%–

54Pittsboro, NCNC5,05440.9%+81%

55Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90840.8%+472%

56Mint Hill, NCNC29,47640.3%+46%

57Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90640.2%–

58Mills River, NCNC7,50439.6%–

59Oak Island, NCNC9,33739.6%+108%

60Greensboro, NCNC308,66739.4%+16%

61Cramerton, NCNC5,71338.7%+50%

62Indian Trail, NCNC44,30338.6%+74%

63Concord, NCNC114,59838.3%+68%

64Greenville, NCNC96,44337.8%−1%

65Leland, NCNC35,73137.4%+168%

66Woodfin, NCNC8,22937.0%+143%

67Gibsonville, NCNC9,87636.5%+54%

68Hendersonville, NCNC15,86736.1%+19%

69Aberdeen, NCNC10,06636.0%+69%

70Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73135.8%+33%

71Mebane, NCNC21,95235.7%+26%

72Murraysville, NCNC16,33935.5%+22%

73Creedmoor, NCNC5,04635.3%+66%

74Hickory, NCNC45,97535.0%+25%

75Brevard, NCNC8,09834.9%+33%

76Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27134.3%+13%

77Morehead City, NCNC10,43433.3%+60%

78Northchase, NCNC5,89633.2%–

79Stokesdale, NCNC6,13332.8%+41%

80Fletcher, NCNC8,37332.7%+20%

81High Point, NCNC120,57132.2%+26%

82Mount Holly, NCNC19,03332.0%+116%

83Kernersville, NCNC29,12832.0%+24%

84Midland, NCNC5,15131.1%–

85Clayton, NCNC32,63330.7%+31%

86Moyock, NCNC5,68430.6%–

87Silver Lake, NCNC6,56329.8%+24%

88Wendell, NCNC19,68729.6%+53%

89Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92728.8%–

90Waynesville, NCNC11,00628.0%+63%

91New Bern, NCNC34,72427.7%+21%

92Spring Lake, NCNC11,25227.4%+221%

93Kings Grant, NCNC9,00327.3%+20%

94Fayetteville, NCNC209,12027.3%+13%

95Etowah, NCNC7,96827.2%+33%

96Statesville, NCNC32,18127.1%+39%

97Nashville, NCNC5,91127.0%+77%

98Shelby, NCNC23,30926.8%+49%

99Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62226.8%+54%

100Walkertown, NCNC6,12026.7%+119%

101Midway, NCNC5,10426.3%–

102Burlington, NCNC61,49626.2%+21%

103Unionville, NCNC7,32225.8%+57%

104Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64925.8%–

105Angier, NCNC9,41025.7%+75%

106Gastonia, NCNC87,06725.6%+27%

107Salisbury, NCNC36,87925.0%+4%

108Jacksonville, NCNC72,73225.0%+40%

109Tarboro, NCNC10,97924.9%+46%

110Kannapolis, NCNC61,70824.9%+108%

111Shallotte, NCNC5,33524.8%+3%

112King, NCNC7,97724.7%+36%

113Smithfield, NCNC13,11424.2%+32%

114Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,16523.8%+13%

115Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54023.7%−12%

116Locust, NCNC6,12023.2%+123%

117Mount Airy, NCNC10,68223.1%+14%

118Wilson, NCNC49,57222.8%+19%

119Clinton, NCNC8,46622.7%+23%

120Oxford, NCNC8,98522.5%+20%

121Hope Mills, NCNC18,32422.1%+48%

122Piney Green, NCNC14,07822.0%+21%

123Washington, NCNC9,91021.8%+5%

124Lumberton, NCNC18,95521.6%+6%

125Sanford, NCNC34,13821.3%+14%

126Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12021.1%+5%

127Cherryville, NCNC6,52320.8%+65%

128Graham, NCNC20,13120.7%+24%

129Morganton, NCNC17,84920.6%−1%

130Conover, NCNC8,93820.6%+12%

131Goldsboro, NCNC35,01220.5%+19%

132Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38620.3%+35%

133St. Stephens, NCNC9,45720.2%+73%

134Butner, NCNC8,11220.1%+107%

135Zebulon, NCNC11,93320.0%+27%

136Mocksville, NCNC6,28219.9%+8%

137Newton, NCNC13,82219.8%+31%

138Laurinburg, NCNC14,58219.8%−9%

139Dunn, NCNC8,81419.2%+14%

140Trinity, NCNC7,27419.2%+53%

141Archdale, NCNC12,25419.1%+42%

142Rockingham, NCNC8,81519.1%+25%

143Reidsville, NCNC14,69218.5%+18%

144Asheboro, NCNC27,99018.0%+7%

145Monroe, NCNC42,64417.8%+14%

146Lenoir, NCNC18,37217.6%+32%

147Henderson, NCNC15,01317.3%+19%

148Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28717.3%+33%

149Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.2%−2%

150Albemarle, NCNC17,76917.2%−1%

151Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.1%+45%

152Forest City, NCNC7,41017.0%+78%

153Ayden, NCNC5,26316.8%+24%

154Half Moon, NCNC7,37816.7%+5%

155Kinston, NCNC19,70516.7%+0%

156Swannanoa, NCNC6,90116.3%+33%

157Marion, NCNC7,44016.1%+7%

158Williamston, NCNC5,08616.0%+20%

159Eden, NCNC15,50015.8%+42%

160Havelock, NCNC17,43015.6%+2%

161Lillington, NCNC5,04014.2%+7%

162Lexington, NCNC20,23814.1%+1%

163East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32313.9%+104%

164Thomasville, NCNC27,73313.8%+44%

165Roxboro, NCNC8,38013.2%+71%

166Dallas, NCNC6,39213.1%+45%

167Siler City, NCNC8,15513.0%+56%

168Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87512.5%−18%

169Hamlet, NCNC5,87011.9%+4%

170Selma, NCNC7,40611.5%+14%

171Sawmills, NCNC5,10510.4%+32%

172Wadesboro, NCNC5,0359.4%−40%

173Bessemer City, NCNC5,8348.9%+16%

174Long View, NCNC5,3878.6%+26%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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