Data / Rankings / High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over

Rolesville, NC had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 93 cities in 2022, at 98.5%. Zebulon, NC had the lowest, at 75.2%. The median was 91.7% and the figure for North Carolina was 89.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest98.5Rolesville, NC
Lowest75.2Zebulon, NC
Median91.793 cities
North Carolina89.4History

Top 40 cities, 2022

Rolesville, NC: 98.5 %Rolesville, NC98.5Pinehurst, NC: 98.1 %Pinehurst, NC98.1Apex, NC: 98 %Apex, NC98Weddington, NC: 97.8 %Weddington, NC97.8Leland, NC: 97.3 %Leland, NC97.3Cornelius, NC: 97.3 %Cornelius, NC97.3Morrisville, NC: 97 %Morrisville, NC97Davidson, NC: 97 %Davidson, NC97Cary, NC: 96.8 %Cary, NC96.8Huntersville, NC: 96.8 %Huntersville, NC96.8Lewisville, NC: 96.8 %Lewisville, NC96.8Harrisburg, NC: 96.7 %Harrisburg, NC96.7Waxhaw, NC: 96.7 %Waxhaw, NC96.7Wake Forest, NC: 96.6 %Wake Forest, NC96.6Carrboro, NC: 95.9 %Carrboro, NC95.9Chapel Hill, NC: 95.6 %Chapel Hill, NC95.6Holly Springs, NC: 95.6 %Holly Springs, NC95.6Summerfield, NC: 95.5 %Summerfield, NC95.5Elon, NC: 95.4 %Elon, NC95.4Fuquay-Varina, NC: 95.2 %Fuquay-Varina, NC95.2Knightdale, NC: 95.2 %Knightdale, NC95.2Mooresville, NC: 95.2 %Mooresville, NC95.2Southern Pines, NC: 95 %Southern Pines, NC95Clemmons, NC: 95 %Clemmons, NC95Garner, NC: 94.8 %Garner, NC94.8Clayton, NC: 94.7 %Clayton, NC94.7Stallings, NC: 94.7 %Stallings, NC94.7Matthews, NC: 94.5 %Matthews, NC94.5Pineville, NC: 94.5 %Pineville, NC94.5Havelock, NC: 94.4 %Havelock, NC94.4Aberdeen, NC: 93.6 %Aberdeen, NC93.6Mebane, NC: 93.5 %Mebane, NC93.5Indian Trail, NC: 93.5 %Indian Trail, NC93.5Asheville, NC: 93.4 %Asheville, NC93.4Greenville, NC: 93.3 %Greenville, NC93.3Jacksonville, NC: 93.3 %Jacksonville, NC93.3Wilmington, NC: 93.3 %Wilmington, NC93.3Mint Hill, NC: 93.3 %Mint Hill, NC93.3Hendersonville, NC: 93.1 %Hendersonville, NC93.1Wendell, NC: 93.1 %Wendell, NC93.1Rolesville, NC: 98.5 %Rolesville, NC98.5Pinehurst, NC: 98.1 %Pinehurst, NC98.1Apex, NC: 98 %Apex, NC98Weddington, NC: 97.8 %Weddington, NC97.8Leland, NC: 97.3 %Leland, NC97.3Cornelius, NC: 97.3 %Cornelius, NC97.3Morrisville, NC: 97 %Morrisville, NC97Davidson, NC: 97 %Davidson, NC97Cary, NC: 96.8 %Cary, NC96.8Huntersville, NC: 96.8 %Huntersville, NC96.8Lewisville, NC: 96.8 %Lewisville, NC96.8Harrisburg, NC: 96.7 %Harrisburg, NC96.7Waxhaw, NC: 96.7 %Waxhaw, NC96.7Wake Forest, NC: 96.6 %Wake Forest, NC96.6Carrboro, NC: 95.9 %Carrboro, NC95.9Chapel Hill, NC: 95.6 %Chapel Hill, NC95.6Holly Springs, NC: 95.6 %Holly Springs, NC95.6Summerfield, NC: 95.5 %Summerfield, NC95.5Elon, NC: 95.4 %Elon, NC95.4Fuquay-Varina, NC: 95.2 %Fuquay-Varina, NC95.2Knightdale, NC: 95.2 %Knightdale, NC95.2Mooresville, NC: 95.2 %Mooresville, NC95.2Southern Pines, NC: 95 %Southern Pines, NC95Clemmons, NC: 95 %Clemmons, NC95Garner, NC: 94.8 %Garner, NC94.8Clayton, NC: 94.7 %Clayton, NC94.7Stallings, NC: 94.7 %Stallings, NC94.7Matthews, NC: 94.5 %Matthews, NC94.5Pineville, NC: 94.5 %Pineville, NC94.5Havelock, NC: 94.4 %Havelock, NC94.4Aberdeen, NC: 93.6 %Aberdeen, NC93.6Mebane, NC: 93.5 %Mebane, NC93.5Indian Trail, NC: 93.5 %Indian Trail, NC93.5Asheville, NC: 93.4 %Asheville, NC93.4Greenville, NC: 93.3 %Greenville, NC93.3Jacksonville, NC: 93.3 %Jacksonville, NC93.3Wilmington, NC: 93.3 %Wilmington, NC93.3Mint Hill, NC: 93.3 %Mint Hill, NC93.3Hendersonville, NC: 93.1 %Hendersonville, NC93.1Wendell, NC: 93.1 %Wendell, NC93.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2022 (%)Change on 2021
1Rolesville, NC98.5+1.1 pts
2Pinehurst, NC98.1-0.1 pts
3Apex, NC98-0.2 pts
4Weddington, NC97.8+0.3 pts
5Leland, NC97.3+0.6 pts
6Cornelius, NC97.3+0.5 pts
7Morrisville, NC97+0.3 pts
8Davidson, NC97-0.8 pts
9Cary, NC96.8+0.1 pts
9Huntersville, NC96.8+0.2 pts
9Lewisville, NC96.8+0.6 pts
12Harrisburg, NC96.7+0.6 pts
12Waxhaw, NC96.7-0.5 pts
14Wake Forest, NC96.6-0.3 pts
15Carrboro, NC95.9+0.4 pts
16Chapel Hill, NC95.6-1.4 pts
17Holly Springs, NC95.60 pts
18Summerfield, NC95.5-0.6 pts
19Elon, NC95.4+1.7 pts
20Fuquay-Varina, NC95.2+1.5 pts
21Knightdale, NC95.2+2 pts
22Mooresville, NC95.2-0.1 pts
23Southern Pines, NC95+1.4 pts
24Clemmons, NC95-0.4 pts
25Garner, NC94.8+1.3 pts
26Clayton, NC94.7+0.6 pts
27Stallings, NC94.7+0.6 pts
28Matthews, NC94.5-0.8 pts
29Pineville, NC94.5-0.7 pts
30Havelock, NC94.4+0.6 pts
31Aberdeen, NC93.6-0.7 pts
32Mebane, NC93.5-0.7 pts
33Indian Trail, NC93.5-0.5 pts
34Asheville, NC93.4+0.1 pts
35Greenville, NC93.3+0.5 pts
36Jacksonville, NC93.3+0.3 pts
37Wilmington, NC93.3-0.2 pts
38Mint Hill, NC93.3-0.8 pts
39Hendersonville, NC93.1-0.4 pts
39Wendell, NC93.1+0.3 pts
41Fayetteville, NC93.1+0.6 pts
42Hope Mills, NC92.5-0.4 pts
43Spring Lake, NC92.5-0.9 pts
44Raleigh, NC92.4+0.1 pts
45Belmont, NC92.4+0.4 pts
46Mount Holly, NC91.9+0.1 pts
47Boone, NC91.7+1.1 pts
47Kernersville, NC91.7+0.8 pts
49Winterville, NC91.3-3.9 pts
50Durham, NC91.3+0.7 pts
51Concord, NC91.2+1.2 pts
52Morehead City, NC91+0.4 pts
53Greensboro, NC90.1-0.1 pts
54Hickory, NC90+0.7 pts
54New Bern, NC90+2.2 pts
56Charlotte, NC89.80 pts
57Elizabeth City, NC89.5+1.2 pts
58Newton, NC88.8+1.3 pts
59Tarboro, NC88.6+1.8 pts
60Shelby, NC88.1-1.1 pts
61Archdale, NC88-2 pts
62Winston-Salem, NC87.9-0.1 pts
63Kannapolis, NC87.8+1 pts
64Goldsboro, NC87.5-0.7 pts
65Gastonia, NC87.5+1.3 pts
66Salisbury, NC87.3-0.6 pts
67Waynesville, NC86.9+1.9 pts
68Rocky Mount, NC86.9-0.4 pts
69Graham, NC86.7+0.6 pts
70High Point, NC86.4+0.1 pts
71Roanoke Rapids, NC86.2+1.2 pts
72Albemarle, NC85.7+1.2 pts
73Kings Mountain, NC85.6+1.1 pts
74Statesville, NC85.4-1.9 pts
75Burlington, NC85.4+1.5 pts
76Mount Airy, NC85.2+0.9 pts
77Lincolnton, NC85.1+0.3 pts
78Lenoir, NC84.7+1.2 pts
79Eden, NC84.6+0.8 pts
80Reidsville, NC83.5+3.4 pts
81Laurinburg, NC83.5-0.8 pts
82Wilson, NC83.5+1.1 pts
83Monroe, NC82.3+0.6 pts
84Asheboro, NC82.2+2 pts
85Henderson, NC82.1-1.1 pts
86Thomasville, NC81.2+1 pts
87Kinston, NC81+0.1 pts
88Sanford, NC80.1-1 pts
89Smithfield, NC79.3-1.1 pts
90Lumberton, NC79.2-0.4 pts
91Lexington, NC78.6-0.5 pts
92Morganton, NC76.7+0.1 pts
93Zebulon, NC75.2+1.2 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over who hold a regular high school diploma, a GED or alternative credential, or any higher level of education, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

Measures the adult population, not students: it is not the high school graduation rate of a class. Not comparable with the EU share below upper secondary education, which covers ages 25 to 64.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_north_carolina_2022,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2022
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-cities?period=2022.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2022/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2022-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Rank Cities in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
rank_places {"indicator":"high_school_graduate_share","level":"municipality","within":"North Carolina","limit":10}
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Questions

Which city has the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Rolesville, NC, with 98.5% in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Zebulon, NC, with 75.2% in 2022.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over: other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings