RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most graduate degrees, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). This list covers the 174 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 2000

01Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56548.8%+21%

02Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04942.8%–

03Carrboro, NCNC20,96242.7%+39%

04Marvin, NCNC7,04034.7%+44%

05Cary, NCNC183,58230.6%+33%

06Porters Neck, NCNC7,65430.6%–

07Morrisville, NCNC32,46630.3%+56%

08Davidson, NCNC16,66230.2%+18%

09St. James, NCNC7,31827.7%+25%

10Rolesville, NCNC12,83925.6%+413%

11Apex, NCNC80,41925.1%+48%

12Boone, NCNC19,92924.7%+6%

13Hillsborough, NCNC9,77824.6%+107%

14Durham, NCNC305,56124.5%+34%

15Pinehurst, NCNC18,67023.9%+38%

16Elon, NCNC11,36623.9%–

17Southern Pines, NCNC17,35723.4%+90%

18Cullowhee, NCNC7,97323.0%−20%

19Black Mountain, NCNC8,49122.7%+119%

20Weddington, NCNC14,51721.8%+81%

21Holly Springs, NCNC50,28821.7%+77%

22Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50520.6%+19%

23Asheville, NCNC93,52320.2%+87%

24Summerfield, NCNC11,32719.9%+59%

25Waxhaw, NCNC23,14019.3%+347%

26Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89619.1%+49%

27Spout Springs, NCNC11,24219.1%–

28Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49419.0%+232%

29Wake Forest, NCNC58,14719.0%+77%

30Pittsboro, NCNC5,05418.8%+116%

31Raleigh, NCNC506,30618.8%+30%

32Huntersville, NCNC68,53518.6%+54%

33Winterville, NCNC10,97318.4%+351%

34Clemmons, NCNC22,80818.0%+25%

35Westport, NCNC5,91517.3%+34%

36Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87016.6%+157%

37Garner, NCNC41,56216.5%+146%

38Gibsonville, NCNC9,87616.4%+111%

39Cornelius, NCNC35,09416.1%+16%

40Harrisburg, NCNC20,74215.9%+208%

41Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63715.8%+74%

42Charlotte, NCNC964,78415.5%+49%

43Surf City, NCNC5,14215.5%+76%

44Hampstead, NCNC9,29215.4%–

45Wilmington, NCNC126,80915.3%+81%

46Knightdale, NCNC23,14415.3%+93%

47Stallings, NCNC17,76015.3%+522%

48Matthews, NCNC32,76915.2%+22%

49Ogden, NCNC8,24915.1%+29%

50Greenville, NCNC96,44315.0%+4%

51Greensboro, NCNC308,66714.9%+39%

52Hendersonville, NCNC15,86714.9%+27%

53Belmont, NCNC16,41514.8%+133%

54Concord, NCNC114,59814.5%+144%

55Oak Island, NCNC9,33714.2%+112%

56Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27114.0%+27%

57Mills River, NCNC7,50413.9%–

58Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90813.6%+884%

59Mooresville, NCNC55,84213.4%+120%

60Indian Trail, NCNC44,30313.3%+153%

61Brevard, NCNC8,09813.2%+28%

62Woodfin, NCNC8,22913.2%+301%

63Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53612.9%+73%

64Leland, NCNC35,73112.7%+423%

65Cramerton, NCNC5,71312.7%+65%

66Clayton, NCNC32,63312.7%+115%

67Lewisville, NCNC14,42112.6%−2%

68Hickory, NCNC45,97512.3%+43%

69Midland, NCNC5,15112.2%–

70Mebane, NCNC21,95212.0%+67%

71Waynesville, NCNC11,00611.9%+98%

72Wendell, NCNC19,68711.9%+188%

73New Bern, NCNC34,72411.8%+61%

74Mint Hill, NCNC29,47611.8%+94%

75Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92711.8%–

76Creedmoor, NCNC5,04611.7%+97%

77Pineville, NCNC11,85111.7%+86%

78Murraysville, NCNC16,33911.6%+193%

79Mount Holly, NCNC19,03311.5%+330%

80Morehead City, NCNC10,43411.5%+115%

81Stokesdale, NCNC6,13311.4%+39%

82Moyock, NCNC5,68411.4%–

83Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90611.3%–

84Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73111.2%+52%

85Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54010.9%+44%

86Aberdeen, NCNC10,06610.8%+61%

87High Point, NCNC120,57110.6%+63%

88Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56610.5%+3%

89Kernersville, NCNC29,12810.2%+40%

90East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32310.2%+596%

91Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62210.0%+92%

92Etowah, NCNC7,9689.8%+54%

93Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1659.6%+68%

94Nashville, NCNC5,9119.5%+63%

95Shallotte, NCNC5,3359.4%+28%

96Mount Airy, NCNC10,6829.4%+84%

97Fayetteville, NCNC209,1209.3%+13%

98Lumberton, NCNC18,9559.2%+18%

99Shelby, NCNC23,3098.9%+46%

100Morganton, NCNC17,8498.8%+20%

101Kings Grant, NCNC9,0038.7%+78%

102Jacksonville, NCNC72,7328.7%+57%

103Clinton, NCNC8,4668.5%+48%

104Gastonia, NCNC87,0678.4%+49%

105Archdale, NCNC12,2548.4%+217%

106Spring Lake, NCNC11,2528.3%+269%

107Kannapolis, NCNC61,7088.1%+194%

108Salisbury, NCNC36,8798.0%+24%

109Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3868.0%+81%

110Statesville, NCNC32,1818.0%+50%

111Washington, NCNC9,9108.0%+25%

112Tarboro, NCNC10,9797.9%+64%

113Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.9%+1%

114Angier, NCNC9,4107.8%+199%

115Ayden, NCNC5,2637.8%+73%

116Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1207.4%+22%

117Wilson, NCNC49,5727.3%+43%

118Smithfield, NCNC13,1147.3%+23%

119Hope Mills, NCNC18,3247.2%+110%

120Burlington, NCNC61,4967.1%+17%

121Walkertown, NCNC6,1206.9%+110%

122King, NCNC7,9776.9%+36%

123Goldsboro, NCNC35,0126.8%+7%

124Williamston, NCNC5,0866.8%+21%

125Zebulon, NCNC11,9336.7%+76%

126Forest City, NCNC7,4106.2%+85%

127Piney Green, NCNC14,0786.2%+38%

128Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6496.1%–

129Trinity, NCNC7,2746.0%+116%

130Fletcher, NCNC8,3736.0%−15%

131Sanford, NCNC34,1386.0%−12%

132Mocksville, NCNC6,2825.9%+61%

133Eden, NCNC15,5005.8%+67%

134Conover, NCNC8,9385.8%+9%

135Dunn, NCNC8,8145.7%+38%

136Selma, NCNC7,4065.7%+156%

137Oxford, NCNC8,9855.6%+1%

138Lexington, NCNC20,2385.4%+27%

139Reidsville, NCNC14,6925.3%+10%

140Butner, NCNC8,1125.3%+65%

141Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1175.3%+85%

142Swannanoa, NCNC6,9015.3%+84%

143Kinston, NCNC19,7055.1%−1%

144Lincolnton, NCNC12,4655.1%+1%

145Siler City, NCNC8,1554.9%+148%

146Asheboro, NCNC27,9904.9%−4%

147Cherryville, NCNC6,5234.8%+65%

148Graham, NCNC20,1314.8%+29%

149Midway, NCNC5,1044.8%–

150Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2874.8%+50%

151Locust, NCNC6,1204.7%+30%

152Newton, NCNC13,8224.6%+21%

153Monroe, NCNC42,6444.6%−8%

154Albemarle, NCNC17,7694.5%−11%

155Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.5%+56%

156Rockingham, NCNC8,8154.4%−8%

157Henderson, NCNC15,0134.4%−9%

158Bessemer City, NCNC5,8344.3%+80%

159Silver Lake, NCNC6,5634.2%−35%

160Northchase, NCNC5,8964.2%–

161Unionville, NCNC7,3224.1%+12%

162St. Stephens, NCNC9,4574.0%+30%

163Sawmills, NCNC5,1054.0%+33%

164Havelock, NCNC17,4303.9%+15%

165Marion, NCNC7,4403.8%−10%

166Lenoir, NCNC18,3723.8%−6%

167Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8753.7%+8%

168Roxboro, NCNC8,3803.7%+32%

169Half Moon, NCNC7,3783.2%−36%

170Lillington, NCNC5,0403.0%−24%

171Long View, NCNC5,3872.9%−9%

172Dallas, NCNC6,3922.6%+90%

173Hamlet, NCNC5,8702.6%−22%

174Wadesboro, NCNC5,0350.9%−81%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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