RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most graduate degrees, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56538.7%−5%

02Carrboro, NCNC20,96224.9%−19%

03Cullowhee, NCNC7,97324.8%−14%

04Davidson, NCNC16,66223.0%−10%

05Boone, NCNC19,92920.2%−13%

06Cary, NCNC183,58216.3%−29%

07Durham, NCNC305,56115.8%−14%

08Greenville, NCNC96,44314.5%+1%

09Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.5%+0%

10Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%+0%

11Raleigh, NCNC506,30612.9%−11%

12Pinehurst, NCNC18,67012.0%−31%

13Black Mountain, NCNC8,49111.5%+11%

14Weddington, NCNC14,51710.3%−15%

15Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50510.1%−41%

16Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2719.5%−14%

17Hendersonville, NCNC15,8679.4%−19%

18Greensboro, NCNC308,6679.3%−14%

19Apex, NCNC80,4199.2%−46%

20Surf City, NCNC5,1429.0%+3%

21Brevard, NCNC8,0988.5%−18%

22Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%+2%

23Morrisville, NCNC32,4668.2%−58%

24Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.2%−34%

25Asheville, NCNC93,5238.0%−26%

26Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.6%+3%

27Matthews, NCNC32,7697.5%−40%

28Wake Forest, NCNC58,1477.4%−31%

29Charlotte, NCNC964,7847.3%−30%

30Hillsborough, NCNC9,7787.1%−40%

31Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.9%−21%

32Knightdale, NCNC23,1446.8%−14%

33Morganton, NCNC17,8496.7%−9%

34Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%+1%

35Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%−0%

36Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.4%−30%

37Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.2%+4%

38Ogden, NCNC8,2496.2%−47%

39Lewisville, NCNC14,4216.1%−52%

40Wilmington, NCNC126,8096.1%−28%

41Hickory, NCNC45,9756.0%−31%

42Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.9%−24%

43Shelby, NCNC23,3095.7%−7%

44Rockingham, NCNC8,8155.7%+17%

45Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.6%+2%

46Clayton, NCNC32,6335.5%−6%

47Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.5%−7%

48Statesville, NCNC32,1815.5%+3%

49Wilson, NCNC49,5725.4%+4%

50Garner, NCNC41,5625.3%−20%

51Goldsboro, NCNC35,0125.2%−18%

52Laurinburg, NCNC14,5825.2%−33%

53Burlington, NCNC61,4965.2%−14%

54Huntersville, NCNC68,5355.2%−57%

55Lillington, NCNC5,0405.2%+31%

56Clinton, NCNC8,4665.1%−10%

57Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%+1%

58Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.0%+36%

59Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.9%+44%

60Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1654.8%−16%

61Summerfield, NCNC11,3274.8%−62%

62Conover, NCNC8,9384.6%−13%

63Pineville, NCNC11,8514.6%−27%

64Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7314.6%−38%

65Marion, NCNC7,4404.6%+7%

66Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.6%+6%

67Gastonia, NCNC87,0674.6%−19%

68Cornelius, NCNC35,0944.5%−67%

69Sanford, NCNC34,1384.5%−33%

70High Point, NCNC120,5714.4%−32%

71Kinston, NCNC19,7054.4%−15%

72Concord, NCNC114,5984.4%−27%

73Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.3%−13%

74New Bern, NCNC34,7244.3%−41%

75Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.3%−36%

76Cramerton, NCNC5,7134.3%−44%

77Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%−34%

78Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1204.2%−31%

79Wendell, NCNC19,6874.2%+1%

80Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.2%−14%

81Oxford, NCNC8,9854.1%−27%

82Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%−45%

83Washington, NCNC9,9104.0%−37%

84Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6224.0%−23%

85Selma, NCNC7,4064.0%+79%

86Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.0%−15%

87Kernersville, NCNC29,1283.9%−46%

88Belmont, NCNC16,4153.9%−38%

89Mint Hill, NCNC29,4763.9%−36%

90Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%−4%

91Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.8%−26%

92Etowah, NCNC7,9683.8%−40%

93Swannanoa, NCNC6,9013.8%+32%

94Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.7%−26%

95Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3863.7%−16%

96Nashville, NCNC5,9113.6%−38%

97Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.6%−49%

98Creedmoor, NCNC5,0463.6%−40%

99Asheboro, NCNC27,9903.6%−30%

100Tarboro, NCNC10,9793.6%−26%

101Winterville, NCNC10,9733.6%−13%

102Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.4%+4%

103Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.4%−44%

104Ayden, NCNC5,2633.4%−24%

105Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.3%−3%

106Williamston, NCNC5,0863.3%−41%

107Stokesdale, NCNC6,1333.3%−60%

108Dallas, NCNC6,3923.2%+131%

109Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%−22%

110Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.2%+9%

111Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.2%−40%

112Lexington, NCNC20,2383.1%−26%

113Albemarle, NCNC17,7693.1%−38%

114Archdale, NCNC12,2543.0%+15%

115Mount Airy, NCNC10,6823.0%−40%

116Havelock, NCNC17,4303.0%−11%

117Newton, NCNC13,8223.0%−23%

118Henderson, NCNC15,0132.9%−41%

119Zebulon, NCNC11,9332.9%−25%

120Eden, NCNC15,5002.8%−20%

121Graham, NCNC20,1312.8%−26%

122Half Moon, NCNC7,3782.6%−49%

123King, NCNC7,9772.5%−50%

124Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.5%−11%

125Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.5%−13%

126Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.5%−25%

127Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.4%−13%

128Forest City, NCNC7,4102.4%−28%

129Mebane, NCNC21,9522.4%−67%

130Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.3%−70%

131Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.2%−20%

132Angier, NCNC9,4102.2%−14%

133Siler City, NCNC8,1552.1%+8%

134Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.1%−7%

135Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032.0%−62%

136Bessemer City, NCNC5,8341.9%−18%

137St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.9%−37%

138Butner, NCNC8,1121.9%−41%

139Long View, NCNC5,3871.8%−43%

140Stallings, NCNC17,7601.7%−30%

141Holly Springs, NCNC50,2881.7%−86%

142Woodfin, NCNC8,2291.6%−53%

143Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331.5%−44%

144Piney Green, NCNC14,0781.5%−67%

145Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.5%+6%

146East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.4%−6%

147Locust, NCNC6,1201.3%−63%

148Trinity, NCNC7,2741.2%−58%

149Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2871.0%−69%

150Sawmills, NCNC5,1050.9%−69%

151Leland, NCNC35,7310.3%−89%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

Download CSV (full list, 151 rows)

UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES