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 (1990 ACS). This list covers the 151 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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS –

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56538.7%–

02Carrboro, NCNC20,96224.9%–

03Cullowhee, NCNC7,97324.8%–

04Davidson, NCNC16,66223.0%–

05Boone, NCNC19,92920.2%–

06Cary, NCNC183,58216.3%–

07Durham, NCNC305,56115.8%–

08Greenville, NCNC96,44314.5%–

09Clemmons, NCNC22,80814.5%–

10Westport, NCNC5,91512.9%–

11Raleigh, NCNC506,30612.9%–

12Pinehurst, NCNC18,67012.0%–

13Black Mountain, NCNC8,49111.5%–

14Weddington, NCNC14,51710.3%–

15Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50510.1%–

16Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2719.5%–

17Hendersonville, NCNC15,8679.4%–

18Greensboro, NCNC308,6679.3%–

19Apex, NCNC80,4199.2%–

20Surf City, NCNC5,1429.0%–

21Brevard, NCNC8,0988.5%–

22Fayetteville, NCNC209,1208.4%–

23Morrisville, NCNC32,4668.2%–

24Southern Pines, NCNC17,3578.2%–

25Asheville, NCNC93,5238.0%–

26Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.6%–

27Matthews, NCNC32,7697.5%–

28Wake Forest, NCNC58,1477.4%–

29Charlotte, NCNC964,7847.3%–

30Hillsborough, NCNC9,7787.1%–

31Pittsboro, NCNC5,0546.9%–

32Knightdale, NCNC23,1446.8%–

33Morganton, NCNC17,8496.7%–

34Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.5%–

35Salisbury, NCNC36,8796.5%–

36Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.4%–

37Waynesville, NCNC11,0066.2%–

38Ogden, NCNC8,2496.2%–

39Lewisville, NCNC14,4216.1%–

40Wilmington, NCNC126,8096.1%–

41Hickory, NCNC45,9756.0%–

42Lumberton, NCNC18,9555.9%–

43Shelby, NCNC23,3095.7%–

44Rockingham, NCNC8,8155.7%–

45Jacksonville, NCNC72,7325.6%–

46Clayton, NCNC32,6335.5%–

47Smithfield, NCNC13,1145.5%–

48Statesville, NCNC32,1815.5%–

49Wilson, NCNC49,5725.4%–

50Garner, NCNC41,5625.3%–

51Goldsboro, NCNC35,0125.2%–

52Laurinburg, NCNC14,5825.2%–

53Burlington, NCNC61,4965.2%–

54Huntersville, NCNC68,5355.2%–

55Lillington, NCNC5,0405.2%–

56Clinton, NCNC8,4665.1%–

57Monroe, NCNC42,6445.0%–

58Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.0%–

59Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8754.9%–

60Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1654.8%–

61Summerfield, NCNC11,3274.8%–

62Conover, NCNC8,9384.6%–

63Pineville, NCNC11,8514.6%–

64Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7314.6%–

65Marion, NCNC7,4404.6%–

66Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.6%–

67Gastonia, NCNC87,0674.6%–

68Cornelius, NCNC35,0944.5%–

69Sanford, NCNC34,1384.5%–

70High Point, NCNC120,5714.4%–

71Kinston, NCNC19,7054.4%–

72Concord, NCNC114,5984.4%–

73Rolesville, NCNC12,8394.3%–

74New Bern, NCNC34,7244.3%–

75Aberdeen, NCNC10,0664.3%–

76Cramerton, NCNC5,7134.3%–

77Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%–

78Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1204.2%–

79Wendell, NCNC19,6874.2%–

80Reidsville, NCNC14,6924.2%–

81Oxford, NCNC8,9854.1%–

82Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5364.1%–

83Washington, NCNC9,9104.0%–

84Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6224.0%–

85Selma, NCNC7,4064.0%–

86Wadesboro, NCNC5,0354.0%–

87Kernersville, NCNC29,1283.9%–

88Belmont, NCNC16,4153.9%–

89Mint Hill, NCNC29,4763.9%–

90Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%–

91Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.8%–

92Etowah, NCNC7,9683.8%–

93Swannanoa, NCNC6,9013.8%–

94Lincolnton, NCNC12,4653.7%–

95Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3863.7%–

96Nashville, NCNC5,9113.6%–

97Fletcher, NCNC8,3733.6%–

98Creedmoor, NCNC5,0463.6%–

99Asheboro, NCNC27,9903.6%–

100Tarboro, NCNC10,9793.6%–

101Winterville, NCNC10,9733.6%–

102Walkertown, NCNC6,1203.4%–

103Mooresville, NCNC55,8423.4%–

104Ayden, NCNC5,2633.4%–

105Hope Mills, NCNC18,3243.3%–

106Williamston, NCNC5,0863.3%–

107Stokesdale, NCNC6,1333.3%–

108Dallas, NCNC6,3923.2%–

109Dunn, NCNC8,8143.2%–

110Cherryville, NCNC6,5233.2%–

111Morehead City, NCNC10,4343.2%–

112Lexington, NCNC20,2383.1%–

113Albemarle, NCNC17,7693.1%–

114Archdale, NCNC12,2543.0%–

115Mount Airy, NCNC10,6823.0%–

116Havelock, NCNC17,4303.0%–

117Newton, NCNC13,8223.0%–

118Henderson, NCNC15,0132.9%–

119Zebulon, NCNC11,9332.9%–

120Eden, NCNC15,5002.8%–

121Graham, NCNC20,1312.8%–

122Half Moon, NCNC7,3782.6%–

123King, NCNC7,9772.5%–

124Thomasville, NCNC27,7332.5%–

125Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172.5%–

126Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.5%–

127Kannapolis, NCNC61,7082.4%–

128Forest City, NCNC7,4102.4%–

129Mebane, NCNC21,9522.4%–

130Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762.3%–

131Roxboro, NCNC8,3802.2%–

132Angier, NCNC9,4102.2%–

133Siler City, NCNC8,1552.1%–

134Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522.1%–

135Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032.0%–

136Bessemer City, NCNC5,8341.9%–

137St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571.9%–

138Butner, NCNC8,1121.9%–

139Long View, NCNC5,3871.8%–

140Stallings, NCNC17,7601.7%–

141Holly Springs, NCNC50,2881.7%–

142Woodfin, NCNC8,2291.6%–

143Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331.5%–

144Piney Green, NCNC14,0781.5%–

145Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081.5%–

146East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231.4%–

147Locust, NCNC6,1201.3%–

148Trinity, NCNC7,2741.2%–

149Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2871.0%–

150Sawmills, NCNC5,1050.9%–

151Leland, NCNC35,7310.3%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

Download CSV (full list, 151 rows)

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