Ranking of North Carolina Cities and Places By Population Aged 25 years and above with an Educational attainment of Bachelors or Higher in 2021 (ACS-5Yrs)

Updated on September 3, 2025.

Based on the US Census ACS-5Yrs estimates, in 2021, the population of North Carolina (aged 25 years and above) who had an educational attainment of Bachelors or Higher was 2,339,163. Among all North Carolina cities and places, Charlotte city had the highest population (aged 25 years and above) with an educational attainment of Bachelors or Higher (266,439), followed by Raleigh city (162,918), and Durham city (100,594).

The chart below shows the top 10 North Carolina cities and places, and the table below shows the ranking of all North Carolina cities and places.

You can see similar information for other educational attainments.

You can also see similar information for other states and for the United States.

Ranking of North Carolina Cities and Places By Population (Aged 25yrs+) with an Educational Attainment of Bachelors or Higher in 2021
Charlotte city
Raleigh city
Durham city
Cary town
Greensboro city
Winston-Salem city
Asheville city
Fayetteville city
Wilmington city
Concord city
Ranking of North Carolina Cities and Places By Population (Aged 25yrs+) with an Educational Attainment of Bachelors or Higher in 2021
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Rank City or Place Number of People
1 Charlotte city 266439
2 Raleigh city 162918
3 Durham city 100594
4 Cary town 80742
5 Greensboro city 75562
6 Winston-Salem city 56240
7 Asheville city 35841
8 Fayetteville city 35274
9 Wilmington city 33831
10 Concord city 27405
11 High Point city 24993
12 Apex town 24317
13 Chapel Hill town 23918
14 Huntersville town 22594
15 Greenville city 18482
16 Wake Forest town 17085
17 Holly Springs town 14898
18 Morrisville town 14094
19 Mooresville town 13940
20 Gastonia city 13270
21 Cornelius town 12203
22 Matthews town 11371
23 Hickory city 10657
24 Burlington city 10527
25 Fuquay-Varina town 10089
26 Indian Trail town 9756
27 Carrboro town 9750
28 Garner town 9509
29 Kannapolis city 8665
30 Pinehurst village 8402
31 Rocky Mount city 8290
32 Jacksonville city 7920
33 Mint Hill town 7617
34 Clemmons village 7500
35 Wilson city 7145
36 Leland town 6909
37 Davidson town 6782
38 Waxhaw town 6515
39 New Bern city 6374
40 Kernersville town 6254
41 Salisbury city 5920
42 Southern Pines town 5731
43 Harrisburg town 5723
44 Knightdale town 5500
45 Weddington town 5446
46 Lake Norman of Iredell CDP 5302
47 Stallings town 5109
48 Statesville city 5084
49 Goldsboro city 4823
50 Clayton town 4816
51 Hendersonville city 4388
52 Mount Holly city 4324
53 Murraysville CDP 4308
54 Summerfield town 4307
55 Mebane city 4295
56 Hillsborough town 4246
57 Black Mountain town 4198
58 Monroe city 4194
59 Belmont city 4150
60 Sanford city 4116
61 Lewisville town 4082
62 Porters Neck CDP 3881
63 St. James town 3870
64 Shelby city 3840
65 Myrtle Grove CDP 3827
66 Rolesville town 3538
67 Ogden CDP 3524
68 Elizabeth City city 3157
69 Asheboro city 3098
70 Oak Island town 3020
71 Winterville town 2992
72 Pineville town 2955
73 Marvin village 2941
74 Spout Springs CDP 2909
75 Anderson Creek CDP 2870
76 Morganton city 2743
77 Oak Ridge town 2728
78 Lumberton city 2672
79 Lake Norman of Catawba CDP 2663
80 Morehead City town 2539
81 Graham city 2518
82 Boone town 2513
83 Elon town 2511
84 Hope Mills town 2419
85 Briar Chapel CDP 2416
86 Thomasville city 2390
87 Woodfin town 2378
88 Gibsonville town 2284
89 Waynesville town 2224
90 Mills River town 2200
91 Kill Devil Hills town 2189
92 Carolina Beach town 2180
93 Reidsville city 2156
94 Wesley Chapel village 2118
95 Roanoke Rapids city 2103
96 Smithfield town 2102
97 Brevard city 2092
98 Weaverville town 2078
99 Lenoir city 2076
100 Albemarle city 2063
101 Kinston city 2037
102 Newton city 2013
103 Piney Green CDP 2004
104 Wendell town 2001
105 Fletcher town 1996
106 Laurinburg city 1986
107 Aberdeen town 1985
108 Hampstead CDP 1980
109 Mount Airy city 1955
110 Tarboro town 1919
111 Flat Rock village 1858
112 Archdale city 1844
113 Fearrington Village CDP 1821
114 Royal Pines CDP 1800
115 Trent Woods town 1793
116 Lexington city 1791
117 Seven Lakes CDP 1780
118 Etowah CDP 1758
119 Sunset Beach town 1739
120 Eden city 1732
121 Henderson city 1719
122 Whispering Pines village 1677
123 Washington city 1630
124 Kings Grant CDP 1612
125 Westport CDP 1592
126 Emerald Isle town 1571
127 Forest Oaks CDP 1557
128 Spring Lake town 1555
129 Butner town 1486
130 Cramerton town 1469
131 Lincolnton city 1411
132 Southern Shores town 1389
133 Jamestown town 1380
134 Silver Lake CDP 1361
135 Stokesdale town 1350
136 St. Stephens CDP 1337
137 Nags Head town 1333
138 Holly Ridge town 1311
139 Oxford city 1303
140 Rockingham city 1301
140 Unionville town 1301
141 Laurel Park town 1290
142 Wrightsville Beach town 1286
143 Havelock city 1265
144 Clinton city 1262
145 Dunn city 1243
146 Kings Mountain city 1219
147 Bermuda Run town 1207
148 Governors Club CDP 1204
149 Bayshore CDP 1199
150 Pittsboro town 1195
151 King city 1187
152 Surf City town 1169
153 Brices Creek CDP 1124
154 Zebulon town 1120
155 Swansboro town 1108
156 Conover city 1099
157 Carolina Shores town 1078
158 Creedmoor city 1076
159 Nashville town 1075
160 Northchase CDP 1053
160 Southport city 1053
161 Cherryville city 1051
162 Fairfield Harbour CDP 1036
163 Kitty Hawk town 1035
164 Moyock CDP 1031
165 Beaufort town 1028
166 Walkertown town 1008
167 Governors Village CDP 993
168 Bethlehem CDP 992
169 Granite Falls town 975
170 Rutherfordton town 961
171 Boiling Springs town 955
172 Kure Beach town 950
173 Midland town 931
174 River Bend town 924
175 Biltmore Forest town 922
176 Marion city 920
177 Angier town 919
178 Fairview CDP 916
179 Pleasant Garden town 912
180 Whiteville city 910
181 Midway town 904
181 Trinity city 904
181 Valdese town 904
182 Mineral Springs town 897
183 Wallburg town 896
184 Troutman town 894
185 Lake Junaluska CDP 881
186 Edenton town 868
186 Roxboro city 868
187 Half Moon CDP 858
188 Buies Creek CDP 855
189 Mocksville town 843
190 Avery Creek CDP 833
191 Lake Park village 829
192 Mountain Home CDP 806
193 Red Oak town 805
194 James City CDP 778
195 Shallotte town 753
196 Belville town 734
197 Lake Lure town 731
198 Forest City town 722
199 Walnut Creek village 714
200 Eastover town 707
201 Cape Carteret town 705
202 Pine Knoll Shores town 702
203 Valley Hill CDP 697
204 Ayden town 696
205 Elkin town 694
206 North Wilkesboro town 693
207 Horse Shoe CDP 687
208 Spindale town 680
209 Boiling Spring Lakes city 677
210 Wilkesboro town 673
211 Archer Lodge town 671
211 Newport town 671
212 Fairview town 670
213 Locust city 664
214 Raeford city 658
215 Siler City town 654
216 Wrightsboro CDP 652
217 Maggie Valley town 648
218 Franklin town 641
219 Ahoskie town 640
219 Brandywine Bay CDP 640
220 Manteo town 631
220 River Road CDP 631
221 Williamston town 625
222 Cedar Point town 612
223 East Flat Rock CDP 611
223 Swannanoa CDP 611
224 Denver CDP 603
225 Mars Hill town 600
226 Atlantic Beach town 596
226 Tryon town 596
227 Lowesville CDP 592
228 Lake Royale CDP 579
229 Blowing Rock town 577
230 Farmville town 562
231 Holden Beach town 551
232 Lillington town 550
233 China Grove town 546
234 Dallas town 541
235 Youngsville town 532
236 Swepsonville town 526
237 Sawmills town 520
238 Sylva town 518
239 Hudson town 513
240 Cypress Landing CDP 512
241 Murfreesboro town 505
241 Sea Breeze CDP 505
242 Hamlet city 499
243 Stanley town 497
244 Benson town 493
245 Foscoe CDP 491
246 Landis town 489
247 Highlands town 486
248 Selma town 473
249 Oriental town 470
250 Neuse Forest CDP 469
251 McAdenville town 458
251 Ranlo town 458
252 Carolina Meadows CDP 455
252 Windsor town 455
253 Balfour CDP 454
254 Cullowhee CDP 450
255 Grandy CDP 446
256 Mount Olive town 445
256 Wallace town 445
257 Edneyville CDP 443
257 Glen Raven CDP 443
258 Rural Hall town 437
259 Northlakes CDP 433
260 Fruitland CDP 422
261 Mountain View CDP 415
262 Murphy town 412
263 Skippers Corner CDP 410
264 Wadesboro town 403
265 Stedman town 400
266 Maiden town 397
267 Erwin town 393
267 Lowell city 393
268 Ocean Isle Beach town 391
269 Elizabethtown town 390
270 Granite Quarry town 384
271 Spencer town 383
272 Canton town 380
272 Tobaccoville village 380
273 Calabash town 379
274 Tyro CDP 377
275 Burgaw town 376
276 Rockfish CDP 375
277 Southmont CDP 374
278 Randleman city 373
279 Troy town 371
280 Richlands town 369
281 Bessemer City city 365
282 Red Springs town 364
283 Alamance village 363
284 Carthage town 361
284 Dana CDP 361
285 Foxfire village 359
286 Wingate town 356
287 La Grange town 355
288 Mulberry CDP 351
288 Rockwell town 351
289 Four Oaks town 343
289 Welcome CDP 343
290 Norwood town 341
291 North Topsail Beach town 340
292 Bryson City town 337
292 Lake Waccamaw town 337
292 Pinebluff town 337
293 Spruce Pine town 333
294 Bent Creek CDP 328
295 Cove Creek CDP 324
295 Mar-Mac CDP 324
296 Buxton CDP 322
296 Wanchese CDP 322
297 Wentworth town 319
298 Beech Mountain town 315
298 Oakboro town 315
299 New Hope CDP 314
300 Madison town 296
301 Burnsville town 295
301 Pumpkin Center CDP 295
302 Taylorsville town 293
303 Sneads Ferry CDP 292
304 Cajah's Mountain town 284
304 Cherokee CDP 284
304 Dobson town 284
304 Franklinton town 284
305 Claremont city 280
306 Duck town 277
307 Fairmont town 273
307 Five Points CDP 273
308 Enochville CDP 271
309 Long View town 270
310 Glen Alpine town 269
311 Broadway town 265
312 Salem CDP 261
313 Pilot Mountain town 259
314 Harkers Island CDP 258
314 Saluda city 258
315 Banner Elk town 256
316 Tabor City town 255
317 Elroy CDP 254
318 Broad Creek CDP 253
319 Hemby Bridge town 249
320 Cashiers CDP 246
320 JAARS CDP 246
320 South Rosemary CDP 246
321 Advance CDP 243
321 Barker Ten Mile CDP 243
322 Faith town 241
322 Moravian Falls CDP 241
323 Louisburg town 238
323 Mount Pleasant town 238
323 Pine Level town 238
324 Woodlawn CDP 236
325 Pembroke town 235
325 Washington Park town 235
326 Rutherford College town 234
327 Caswell Beach town 233
328 Columbus town 232
328 Drexel town 232
329 Coats town 229
329 Cricket CDP 229
329 Navassa town 229
330 Bethel town 228
331 East Rockingham CDP 227
331 Vander CDP 227
332 Hoopers Creek CDP 226
333 Sugar Mountain village 224
334 White Lake town 219
335 Connelly Springs town 218
336 Cleveland town 215
336 Topsail Beach town 215
337 Seven Devils town 212
338 Clyde town 210
339 Beulaville town 209
339 Liberty town 209
340 Mayodan town 208
340 Sparta town 208
341 Ocracoke CDP 207
342 Warrenton town 204
343 Stem town 203
343 Yadkinville town 203
344 Emma CDP 198
344 Stanfield town 198
344 Yanceyville town 198
345 Gamewell town 197
346 Wilson's Mills town 194
347 Avon CDP 191
348 Weldon town 189
349 Boonville town 188
350 Dortches town 185
351 Hatteras CDP 184
352 Marshall town 182
353 Biscoe town 181
354 Sharpsburg town 179
354 Snow Hill town 179
355 Camden CDP 178
355 Efland CDP 178
356 Nebo CDP 177
357 Haw River town 175
358 Cherry Branch CDP 172
359 Newton Grove town 171
360 Walnut Cove town 169
361 Mount Gilead town 167
362 Prospect CDP 163
363 Mamers CDP 161
364 Dudley CDP 159
365 Forest Hills village 158
365 Green Level town 158
366 Saxapahaw CDP 157
367 Hertford town 155
368 Norlina town 153
369 Bladenboro town 151
370 Maxton town 150
370 Scotland Neck town 150
371 Newland town 148
372 Richfield town 146
373 Jefferson town 144
374 Andrews town 143
374 Grifton town 143
374 Hildebran town 143
375 Elm City town 140
375 Garysburg town 140
376 Kenansville town 139
376 Minnesott Beach town 139
377 Castle Hayne CDP 137
378 Bald Head Island village 136
378 Pinetops town 136
378 Plymouth town 136
379 East Spencer town 128
379 Frisco CDP 128
380 Kenly town 127
380 Rougemont CDP 127
380 Springdale CDP 127
381 Caroleen CDP 124
381 Enfield town 124
382 Star town 123
383 Cordova CDP 122
383 West Jefferson town 122
384 Fallston town 121
384 Fremont town 121
385 Indian Beach town 120
385 Scotch Meadows CDP 120
386 McLeansville CDP 119
386 Roseboro town 119
387 Badin town 117
387 Denton town 117
387 Rocky Point CDP 117
388 Millers Creek CDP 116
388 Rowland town 116
389 Vass town 115
389 Warsaw town 115
390 Fairplains CDP 113
390 Marshville town 113
390 Princeton town 113
390 Whitsett town 113
391 Bogue town 112
391 Pinnacle CDP 112
392 Rich Square town 111
392 Robersonville town 111
393 Conway town 110
393 St. Pauls town 110
394 Gerton CDP 108
395 Cape Colony CDP 107
395 Webster town 107
396 Spring Hope town 104
397 Jamesville town 103
398 Belhaven town 102
398 Bridgeton town 102
398 West Canton CDP 102
399 Ellerbe town 100
399 Middlesex town 100
400 Brogden CDP 99
401 Germanton CDP 98
401 New London town 98
402 Faison town 97
403 Hays CDP 96
403 Toast CDP 96
404 Hot Springs town 94
404 Rose Hill town 94
404 Stoneville town 94
405 St. Helena village 93
406 Hollister CDP 92
406 Pikeville town 92
406 Pleasant Hill CDP 92
406 Princeville town 92
407 Taylortown town 91
408 Chadbourn town 90
408 Glenwood CDP 90
409 Belwood town 88
409 Cove City town 88
409 Plain View CDP 88
409 Polkton town 88
409 White Plains CDP 88
410 Gloucester CDP 87
410 Icard CDP 87
410 Littleton town 87
411 Cliffside CDP 86
411 Dillsboro town 86
411 Wagram town 86
412 Peletier town 85
412 Salvo CDP 85
412 Sedalia town 85
412 Stony Point CDP 85
413 Flat Rock CDP 83
413 Rodanthe CDP 83
413 Winfall town 83
414 Greenevers town 82
414 Spivey's Corner CDP 82
415 Cedar Rock village 81
415 Lilesville town 81
415 Millingport CDP 81
415 Stantonsburg town 81
416 Cameron town 80
417 Maysville town 79
417 Varnamtown town 79
418 Cooleemee town 78
418 Valle Crucis CDP 78
419 Jackson town 77
419 Marshallberg CDP 77
420 Vanceboro town 76
421 Aquadale CDP 75
421 Bath town 75
422 Glenville CDP 74
422 Polkville city 74
423 East Arcadia town 73
423 Hightsville CDP 73
423 Laurel Hill CDP 73
423 West Marion CDP 73
424 Bunnlevel CDP 72
424 Candor town 72
424 Chocowinity town 72
425 Elk Park town 71
425 Seagrove town 71
426 Gorman CDP 70
426 Jonesville town 70
426 Ramseur town 70
426 Salemburg town 70
427 Bell Arthur CDP 69
428 Bethania town 68
428 South Henderson CDP 68
428 Wade town 68
429 Danbury town 67
430 Bayboro town 66
430 Woodland town 66
431 Northwest city 65
432 Chowan Beach CDP 64
432 Old Fort town 64
432 Simpson village 64
433 Bakersville town 63
433 Bolivia town 63
434 Clarkton town 62
434 Parkton town 62
435 Sims town 60
436 Winton town 59
437 Alliance town 57
437 Bunn town 57
437 East Bend town 57
437 Hayesville town 57
438 Grandfather Village village 56
438 Patterson Springs town 56
439 Coinjock CDP 55
439 Halifax town 55
440 Fair Bluff town 54
440 Micro town 54
441 Ellenboro town 53
441 Harmony town 53
441 Pollocksville town 53
442 Lattimore town 52
442 Vann Crossroads CDP 52
443 Lawndale town 51
443 Magnolia town 51
443 Misenheimer village 51
443 Potters Hill CDP 51
443 Stokes CDP 51
444 Grantsboro town 50
445 Cofield village 49
445 Linville CDP 49
445 Ronda town 49
445 Ruth town 49
446 Bailey town 48
446 Barnardsville CDP 48
446 Seaboard town 48
447 Arapahoe town 47
447 Bayview CDP 47
447 Godwin town 47
447 Hobgood town 47
447 Ossipee town 47
447 Rhodhiss town 47
448 Centerville CDP 46
448 Grover town 46
448 Milwaukee CDP 46
449 Teachey town 45
449 White Oak CDP 45
450 Whitakers town 44
451 Lake Santeetlah town 43
451 Milton town 43
452 Barker Heights CDP 42
452 Columbia town 42
452 Fountain town 42
452 Macclesfield town 42
452 Robbins town 42
453 Ansonville town 41
453 Manns Harbor CDP 41
453 Moncure CDP 41
454 Chimney Rock Village village 39
454 Garland town 39
454 Gatesville town 39
454 Red Cross town 39
455 Altamahaw CDP 38
455 Gibson town 38
456 Blue Clay Farms CDP 37
456 Crouse CDP 37
456 Deercroft CDP 37
456 Dobbins Heights town 37
456 Middleburg town 37
456 Oak City town 37
456 Pink Hill town 37
456 Roper town 37
457 Black Creek town 36
457 Morven town 36
457 Sandyfield town 36
458 Casar town 35
458 Lewiston Woodville town 35
458 Marble CDP 35
458 Swan Quarter CDP 35
458 Waco town 35
459 Ashley Heights CDP 34
459 Atlantic CDP 34
459 Goldston town 34
460 Brunswick town 33
460 Saratoga town 33
461 Calypso town 32
461 Dublin town 32
461 Trenton town 32
462 Maury CDP 31
463 Engelhard CDP 30
463 High Shoals city 30
463 Peachland town 30
464 Aurora town 29
464 Cerro Gordo town 29
464 Robbinsville town 29
464 Walstonburg town 29
465 Colerain town 28
465 Davis CDP 28
465 Grimesland town 28
465 Kingstown town 28
465 Silver City CDP 28
466 Bostic town 27
466 Castalia town 27
466 Raemon CDP 27
466 Stonewall town 27
466 Yadkin College CDP 27
467 Gaston town 26
467 Lucama town 26
467 Norman town 26
467 Rennert town 26
468 Atkinson town 25
468 Bennett CDP 25
468 Catawba town 25
468 Hoffman town 25
468 Pantego town 25
468 Vandemere town 25
469 Franklinville town 24
469 Iron Station CDP 24
469 Roxobel town 24
470 Dover town 23
470 Eureka town 23
470 Falcon town 23
471 Aulander town 22
471 Autryville town 22
471 Hookerton town 22
472 Delco CDP 21
472 Harrells town 21
472 Marietta town 21
472 Rosman town 21
473 Brookford town 20
473 Parmele town 20
473 Watha town 20
474 Mooresboro town 19
474 Staley town 19
475 Hamilton town 18
475 Keener CDP 18
475 Kelford town 18
475 Kittrell town 18
475 Macon town 18
475 Stovall town 18
476 Gold Hill CDP 17
476 Momeyer town 17
476 Proctorville town 17
477 Arrowhead Beach CDP 16
477 Belvoir CDP 16
477 Bonnetsville CDP 16
477 Elrod CDP 16
477 Powellsville town 16
478 McDonald town 15
478 Roberdel CDP 15
479 Conetoe town 14
479 Linden town 14
480 Crossnore town 13
480 Light Oak CDP 13
480 Waves CDP 13
481 Creswell town 12
481 Deep Run CDP 12
481 Everetts town 12
481 Ingold CDP 12
482 Mesic town 11
482 Turkey town 11
483 Bolton town 10
483 Hallsboro CDP 10
483 Lasker town 10
483 Sunbury CDP 10
483 Tar Heel town 10
484 Askewville town 9
484 McFarlan town 9
484 Severn town 9
484 Shannon CDP 9
485 Bear Grass town 8
485 Earl town 8
485 Harrellsville town 8
485 Riegelwood CDP 8
485 Sandy Creek town 8
486 Boardman town 7
487 Lansing town 6
488 Alexis CDP 5
489 Como town 4
489 East Laurinburg town 4
489 Lumber Bridge town 4
489 Montreat town 4
490 Falkland town 2
491 Orrum town 1
491 Raynham town 1
492 Bowdens CDP 0
492 Bowmore CDP 0
492 Butters CDP 0
492 Chinquapin CDP 0
492 Dellview town 0
492 Delway CDP 0
492 Dundarrach CDP 0
492 Evergreen CDP 0
492 Fairfield CDP 0
492 Farmington CDP 0
492 Fontana Dam town 0
492 Graingers CDP 0
492 Gulf CDP 0
492 Hassell town 0
492 Henrietta CDP 0
492 Hiddenite CDP 0
492 Hobucken CDP 0
492 Ivanhoe CDP 0
492 Jackson Heights CDP 0
492 Jackson Springs CDP 0
492 Kelly CDP 0
492 Leggett town 0
492 Long Creek CDP 0
492 Love Valley town 0
492 Lowgap CDP 0
492 Old Hundred CDP 0
492 Pinetown CDP 0
492 Rex CDP 0
492 Ruffin CDP 0
492 Seven Springs town 0
492 Smithtown CDP 0
492 South Mills CDP 0
492 South Weldon CDP 0
492 Speed town 0
492 Spencer Mountain town 0
492 Wakulla CDP 0
492 Whittier CDP 0