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These Are The 10 Smartest Cities In North Carolina

By John McLean
Feb. 8, 2016
Last Modified and Fact Checked on: Jan. 22, 2026

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Discover the 10 Most Educated Cities in North Carolina for 2026

When considering a new city to call home or a workplace to join, the intelligence of the community can significantly enhance your experience. A city with a well-educated population often translates to better opportunities for personal and professional growth, making it an appealing choice for both employers and employees alike.

To assist you in identifying the brightest spots in North Carolina, we turn to Zippia, a leading source for career insights. Our analysis highlights the cities that stand out for their educational achievements and community investment in learning.

So, how do we measure the intelligence of a city? We analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau, focusing on the percentage of adults (ages 25 and older) who possess at least a high school diploma, as well as the rate of high school dropouts among teenagers (ages 16-20). From this data, we evaluated the 132 largest cities in North Carolina to determine which ones boast the most educated populations.

  1. Marvin
  2. Weddington
  3. Davidson
  4. Pinehurst
  5. Oak Ridge
  6. Apex
  7. Summerfield
  8. Carolina Beach
  9. Harrisburg
  10. Chapel Hill

Join us as we explore what makes these top cities exceptional in terms of education and community support.

How We Identified the Most Educated Cities in North Carolina

To compile our list of the most educated cities, we focused on municipalities with populations exceeding 5,000 and sufficient data for our criteria. This allowed us to evaluate 132 cities across North Carolina.

We utilized the latest American Community Survey data from the Census Bureau to establish our criteria, which reflects the current educational landscape and the potential for future improvements in education. With a national high school graduation rate of around 80%, we sought to identify cities that not only meet but exceed this benchmark.

Each city was ranked from 1 to 132 based on the criteria, with 1 representing the highest level of education. The final scores were averaged across all criteria, awarding the top overall score to the title of “Most Educated City in North Carolina.”

If your city didn’t make the top 10 list, scroll down for a complete chart of all the cities we analyzed. For now, let’s look at how these top ten cities achieved their recognition.

1. Marvin

Population: 5,806
Adults Without High School Diploma: 0.7%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Marvin takes the top spot with an impressive education profile. With a population of 5,806, it boasts a nearly nonexistent dropout rate and only 0.7% of adults lacking a high school diploma, solidifying its status as the most educated city in North Carolina.

2. Weddington

Population: 9,906
Adults Without High School Diploma: 1.4%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Weddington, coming in at #2, maintains a perfect dropout rate and has only 1.4% of adults without a high school diploma, showcasing its commitment to education.

3. Davidson

Population: 11,492
Adults Without High School Diploma: 2.4%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Davidson ranks third, with a population of 11,492 and strong educational statistics, affirming its position as one of North Carolina’s most educated cities.

4. Pinehurst

Population: 15,052
Adults Without High School Diploma: 2.6%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Pinehurst holds the fourth spot, with only 2.6% of adults lacking a high school diploma, demonstrating a strong educational foundation among its 15,052 residents.

5. Oak Ridge

Population: 6,435
Adults Without High School Diploma: 3.5%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Oak Ridge, with a population of 6,435, ranks fifth, showcasing its low dropout rate and commitment to educational achievement.

6. Apex

Population: 40,631
Adults Without High School Diploma: 2.9%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.9%

Apex, a suburban city with a population of around 40,000, claims the sixth spot with a dropout rate below 1%, making it a prime location for education.

7. Summerfield

Population: 10,477
Adults Without High School Diploma: 4.8%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Summerfield’s educational statistics are impressive, with a nearly nonexistent dropout rate, earning it the seventh position on our list.

8. Carolina Beach

Population: 5,888
Adults Without High School Diploma: 5.1%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Carolina Beach ranks eighth, demonstrating a strong focus on education among its small population of 5,888 residents.

9. Harrisburg

Population: 13,549
Adults Without High School Diploma: 5.2%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.0%

Harrisburg, with a population exceeding 13,000, holds the ninth spot, maintaining a low dropout rate and fostering educational success.

10. Chapel Hill

Population: 58,379
Adults Without High School Diploma: 4.5%
Teenage High School Dropouts: 0.6%

Chapel Hill, known for the University of North Carolina, rounds out our top ten, with a strong educational environment and a commitment to academic success.

And That’s How You Graduate in Style

This concludes our ranking of the 10 Most Educated Cities in North Carolina. At Zippia, we strive to provide valuable insights for our readers. Use this information to make informed decisions on your next visit to the Tar Heel State. Experience firsthand the intelligence and community spirit of these cities, and for future career advice, visit zippia.com to get all your questions answered.

Detailed List of Educated Cities in North Carolina

City Rank Population Adults Without High School Diploma Teenage High School Dropouts
Marvin 1 5,806 0.7% 0.0%
Weddington 2 9,906 1.4% 0.0%
Davidson 3 11,492 2.4% 0.0%
Pinehurst 4 15,052 2.6% 0.0%
Oak Ridge 5 6,435 3.5% 0.0%
Apex 6 40,631 2.9% 0.9%
Summerfield 7 10,477 4.8% 0.0%
Carolina Beach 8 5,888 5.1% 0.0%
Harrisburg 9 13,549 5.2% 0.0%
Chapel Hill 10 58,379 4.5% 0.6%
Waxhaw 11 10,878 3.9% 1.2%
Lewisville 12 13,037 5.9% 0.0%
Matthews 13 28,677 5.4% 0.5%
Kill Devil Hills 14 6,810 6.5% 0.0%
Elon 15 9,516 6.6% 0.0%
Cary 16 146,041 4.8% 1.8%
Winterville 17 9,424 7.5% 0.0%
Wesley Chapel 18 7,882 5.5% 1.6%
Wake Forest 19 33,319 5.2% 2.3%
Oak Island 20 7,051 8.2% 0.0%
Holly Springs 21 27,339 3.6% 3.3%
Havelock 22 20,850 5.2% 2.4%
Gibsonville 23 6,565 8.7% 0.0%
Carrboro 24 20,337 7.3% 1.4%
Stallings 25 14,185 6.5% 2.3%
Garner 26 26,723 8.4% 0.5%
Clemmons 27 19,101 6.4% 2.7%
Boone 28 17,802 9.1% 0.2%
Mint Hill 29 23,934 8.3% 1.1%
Spring Lake 30 13,101 9.3% 0.3%
Greenville 31 87,546 9.1% 0.8%
Southern Pines 32 12,782 8.1% 2.3%
Black Mountain 33 7,977 10.7% 0.0%
Knightdale 34 12,692 10.9% 0.0%
Jacksonville 35 69,300 8.8% 1.5%
Clayton 36 17,274 7.3% 3.0%
Morehead City 37 9,030 11.3% 0.0%
Morrisville 38 20,728 4.0% 5.5%
Huntersville 39 49,279 5.0% 5.0%
Conover 40 8,200 12.0% 0.0%
Indian Trail 41 34,950 7.2% 3.7%
Boiling Spring Lakes 42 5,529 12.7% 0.0%
Mount Holly 43 13,815 14.4% 0.0%
Hope Mills 44 16,024 11.4% 1.9%
Raleigh 45 423,287 9.3% 3.2%
Pineville 46 7,855 14.8% 0.0%
Belmont 47 10,346 14.7% 0.2%
Asheville 48 85,783 8.3% 4.8%
Unionville 49 6,180 6.0% 6.9%
Shelby 50 20,283 14.4% 2.3%
Fayetteville 51 202,421 9.0% 4.9%
Concord 52 82,266 13.0% 3.0%
Greensboro 53 276,225 11.6% 3.7%
Mills River 54 6,917 7.5% 7.6%
Nashville 55 5,469 11.9% 3.9%
Mooresville 56 34,466 8.3% 6.8%
Charlotte 57 774,807 11.9% 4.2%
Brevard 58 7,651 12.0% 4.0%
Washington 59 9,768 18.7% 0.3%
Durham 60 240,107 12.8% 3.8%
Fletcher 61 7,320 8.2% 7.7%
Wilmington 62 110,100 10.4% 6.0%
Kernersville 63 23,522 9.6% 6.4%
Cornelius 64 26,246 5.4% 14.5%
Wadesboro 65 5,711 19.6% 0.6%
Rockingham 66 9,444 16.8% 3.1%
Rocky Mount 67 57,071 17.4% 2.8%
Elizabeth City 68 18,343 19.5% 1.2%
Hickory 69 40,108 15.1% 3.8%
Leland 70 15,316 7.3% 15.0%
Stokesdale 71 5,177 5.7% 26.9%
Waynesville 72 9,770 18.1% 3.3%
Roanoke Rapids 73 15,653 19.3% 2.8%
Goldsboro 74 35,908 15.5% 4.8%
Mebane 75 12,509 9.0% 12.2%
Fuquay-Varina 76 20,246 10.4% 10.7%
Hillsborough 77 6,256 15.2% 5.0%
King 78 6,732 10.4% 12.1%
High Point 79 106,797 14.5% 7.2%
Salisbury 80 33,524 18.2% 4.6%
Laurinburg 81 15,799 20.4% 3.3%
Smithfield 82 11,357 23.1% 1.3%
Aberdeen 83 6,702 12.7% 11.3%
Sawmills 84 5,164 21.8% 2.8%
Cherryville 85 5,826 18.8% 4.5%
Lenoir 86 18,061 25.4% 0.9%
Kings Mountain 87 10,743 17.4% 5.9%
Mocksville 88 5,086 22.6% 2.5%
Wendell 89 6,085 11.1% 15.7%
Winston-Salem 90 234,469 15.4% 7.8%
Albemarle 91 15,924 21.7% 3.4%
Thomasville 92 27,042 21.5% 3.5%
Henderson 93 15,325 28.2% 0.8%
Selma 94 6,172 40.2% 0.0%
Archdale 95 11,322 19.7% 5.0%
Statesville 96 25,132 17.8% 7.7%
Woodfin 97 6,167 12.9% 16.5%
Graham 98 14,384 21.1% 5.4%
Ayden 99 5,018 19.0% 7.2%
Williamston 100 5,410 18.3% 7.9%
Gastonia 101 72,664 17.9% 9.3%
Clinton 102 8,729 20.3% 6.4%
Trinity 103 6,648 16.2% 12.2%
Reidsville 104 14,249 14.9% 15.9%
New Bern 105 30,171 16.2% 13.7%
Hendersonville 106 13,350 14.2% 29.1%
Bessemer City 107 5,410 23.1% 4.4%
Monroe 108 33,588 25.5% 3.7%
Whiteville 109 5,465 21.3% 6.6%
Kinston 110 21,589 20.1% 7.7%
Eden 111 15,543 21.8% 6.1%
Dunn 112 9,570 21.2% 7.3%
Burlington 113 51,740 18.4% 12.0%
Lincolnton 114 10,601 20.3% 9.5%
Hamlet 115 6,566 21.0% 9.2%
Ahoskie 116 5,017 27.1% 4.9%
Kannapolis 117 43,865 18.2% 15.3%
Roxboro 118 8,330 28.3% 5.1%
Wilson 119 49,389 21.0% 14.0%
Lumberton 120 21,707 28.2% 6.3%
Sanford 121 28,798 22.7% 10.9%
Siler City 122 8,109 32.9% 6.1%
Forest City 123 7,387 29.9% 6.2%
Tarboro 124 11,323 23.9% 9.5%
Oxford 125 8,585 19.7% 29.5%
Marion 126 7,948 22.3% 12.8%
Newton 127 12,998 21.5% 16.2%
Asheboro 128 25,573 25.8% 9.5%
Morganton 129 16,816 24.7% 12.4%
Lexington 130 19,029 29.5% 9.3%
Butner 131 7,661 21.9% 33.7%
Mount Airy 132 10,411 24.0% 19.2%
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John McLean

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