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

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

Dare County had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 100 counties in 2021, at 95.3%. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at 76.2%. The median was 86.6% and the figure for North Carolina was 89%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest95.3Dare County
Lowest76.2Tyrrell County
Median86.6100 counties
North Carolina89History

Map of counties, 2021

Alamance County: 87.7 %Alexander County: 85 %Alleghany County: 79.5 %Anson County: 82.5 %Ashe County: 87 %Avery County: 86.1 %Beaufort County: 87.7 %Bertie County: 80.2 %Bladen County: 85 %Brunswick County: 92.8 %Buncombe County: 91.9 %Burke County: 83.3 %Cabarrus County: 90.7 %Caldwell County: 81.5 %Camden County: 90 %Carteret County: 92.1 %Caswell County: 82.5 %Catawba County: 86.5 %Chatham County: 89.5 %Cherokee County: 89.8 %Chowan County: 84.5 %Clay County: 88.9 %Cleveland County: 86.4 %Columbus County: 84 %Craven County: 89.7 %Cumberland County: 92 %Currituck County: 92.3 %Dare County: 95.3 %Davidson County: 85.8 %Davie County: 90.2 %Duplin County: 79.7 %Durham County: 89.9 %Edgecombe County: 84.6 %Forsyth County: 89.3 %Franklin County: 86.5 %Gaston County: 86.7 %Gates County: 89.4 %Graham County: 82.5 %Granville County: 86.1 %Greene County: 77.6 %Guilford County: 90.2 %Halifax County: 79.9 %Harnett County: 88.5 %Haywood County: 89.7 %Henderson County: 91.6 %Hertford County: 83.8 %Hoke County: 87.7 %Hyde County: 78.7 %Iredell County: 91.1 %Jackson County: 89.2 %Johnston County: 88.7 %Jones County: 83.4 %Lee County: 85.6 %Lenoir County: 81 %Lincoln County: 88.9 %McDowell County: 85.4 %Macon County: 88.9 %Madison County: 89.6 %Martin County: 82.5 %Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mitchell County: 88.3 %Montgomery County: 82.3 %Moore County: 92.3 %Nash County: 87.4 %New Hanover County: 93.8 %Northampton County: 81 %Onslow County: 91.8 %Orange County: 93.7 %Pamlico County: 89.6 %Pasquotank County: 89.2 %Pender County: 89.4 %Perquimans County: 86.3 %Person County: 87.8 %Pitt County: 89.9 %Polk County: 92.7 %Randolph County: 83.9 %Richmond County: 82.7 %Robeson County: 77.9 %Rockingham County: 83.8 %Rowan County: 86.9 %Rutherford County: 85.5 %Sampson County: 81.8 %Scotland County: 81.3 %Stanly County: 86.1 %Stokes County: 86.3 %Surry County: 81 %Swain County: 85.1 %Transylvania County: 92 %Tyrrell County: 76.2 %Union County: 90.1 %Vance County: 84.4 %Wake County: 93.7 %Warren County: 85.7 %Washington County: 83.6 %Watauga County: 93.1 %Wayne County: 85.8 %Wilkes County: 81.2 %Wilson County: 82.2 %Yadkin County: 85.6 %Yancey County: 88 %
  • Under 82
  • 82 to 85
  • 85 to 87
  • 87 to 89
  • 89 to 91
  • 91 and over
%, 2021. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2021

Dare County: 95.3 %Dare County95.3New Hanover County: 93.8 %New Hanover County93.8Orange County: 93.7 %Orange County93.7Wake County: 93.7 %Wake County93.7Watauga County: 93.1 %Watauga County93.1Brunswick County: 92.8 %Brunswick County92.8Polk County: 92.7 %Polk County92.7Moore County: 92.3 %Moore County92.3Currituck County: 92.3 %Currituck County92.3Carteret County: 92.1 %Carteret County92.1Cumberland County: 92 %Cumberland County92Transylvania County: 92 %Transylvania County92Buncombe County: 91.9 %Buncombe County91.9Onslow County: 91.8 %Onslow County91.8Henderson County: 91.6 %Henderson County91.6Iredell County: 91.1 %Iredell County91.1Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mecklenburg County90.8Cabarrus County: 90.7 %Cabarrus County90.7Davie County: 90.2 %Davie County90.2Guilford County: 90.2 %Guilford County90.2Union County: 90.1 %Union County90.1Camden County: 90 %Camden County90Durham County: 89.9 %Durham County89.9Pitt County: 89.9 %Pitt County89.9Cherokee County: 89.8 %Cherokee County89.8Haywood County: 89.7 %Haywood County89.7Craven County: 89.7 %Craven County89.7Pamlico County: 89.6 %Pamlico County89.6Madison County: 89.6 %Madison County89.6Chatham County: 89.5 %Chatham County89.5Pender County: 89.4 %Pender County89.4Gates County: 89.4 %Gates County89.4Forsyth County: 89.3 %Forsyth County89.3Pasquotank County: 89.2 %Pasquotank County89.2Jackson County: 89.2 %Jackson County89.2Lincoln County: 88.9 %Lincoln County88.9Clay County: 88.9 %Clay County88.9Macon County: 88.9 %Macon County88.9Johnston County: 88.7 %Johnston County88.7Harnett County: 88.5 %Harnett County88.5Dare County: 95.3 %Dare County95.3New Hanover County: 93.8 %New Hanover County93.8Orange County: 93.7 %Orange County93.7Wake County: 93.7 %Wake County93.7Watauga County: 93.1 %Watauga County93.1Brunswick County: 92.8 %Brunswick County92.8Polk County: 92.7 %Polk County92.7Moore County: 92.3 %Moore County92.3Currituck County: 92.3 %Currituck County92.3Carteret County: 92.1 %Carteret County92.1Cumberland County: 92 %Cumberland County92Transylvania County: 92 %Transylvania County92Buncombe County: 91.9 %Buncombe County91.9Onslow County: 91.8 %Onslow County91.8Henderson County: 91.6 %Henderson County91.6Iredell County: 91.1 %Iredell County91.1Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mecklenburg County90.8Cabarrus County: 90.7 %Cabarrus County90.7Davie County: 90.2 %Davie County90.2Guilford County: 90.2 %Guilford County90.2Union County: 90.1 %Union County90.1Camden County: 90 %Camden County90Durham County: 89.9 %Durham County89.9Pitt County: 89.9 %Pitt County89.9Cherokee County: 89.8 %Cherokee County89.8Haywood County: 89.7 %Haywood County89.7Craven County: 89.7 %Craven County89.7Pamlico County: 89.6 %Pamlico County89.6Madison County: 89.6 %Madison County89.6Chatham County: 89.5 %Chatham County89.5Pender County: 89.4 %Pender County89.4Gates County: 89.4 %Gates County89.4Forsyth County: 89.3 %Forsyth County89.3Pasquotank County: 89.2 %Pasquotank County89.2Jackson County: 89.2 %Jackson County89.2Lincoln County: 88.9 %Lincoln County88.9Clay County: 88.9 %Clay County88.9Macon County: 88.9 %Macon County88.9Johnston County: 88.7 %Johnston County88.7Harnett County: 88.5 %Harnett County88.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2021 (%)
1Dare County95.3
2New Hanover County93.8
3Orange County93.7
4Wake County93.7
5Watauga County93.1
6Brunswick County92.8
7Polk County92.7
8Moore County92.3
9Currituck County92.3
10Carteret County92.1
11Cumberland County92
11Transylvania County92
13Buncombe County91.9
14Onslow County91.8
15Henderson County91.6
16Iredell County91.1
17Mecklenburg County90.8
18Cabarrus County90.7
19Davie County90.2
20Guilford County90.2
21Union County90.1
22Camden County90
23Durham County89.9
24Pitt County89.9
25Cherokee County89.8
26Haywood County89.7
27Craven County89.7
28Pamlico County89.6
29Madison County89.6
30Chatham County89.5
31Pender County89.4
32Gates County89.4
33Forsyth County89.3
34Pasquotank County89.2
35Jackson County89.2
36Lincoln County88.9
37Clay County88.9
37Macon County88.9
39Johnston County88.7
40Harnett County88.5
41Mitchell County88.3
42Yancey County88
43Person County87.8
44Hoke County87.7
45Alamance County87.7
46Beaufort County87.7
47Nash County87.4
48Ashe County87
49Rowan County86.9
50Gaston County86.7
51Catawba County86.5
51Franklin County86.5
53Cleveland County86.4
54Stokes County86.3
55Perquimans County86.3
56Avery County86.1
57Granville County86.1
58Stanly County86.1
59Wayne County85.8
60Davidson County85.8
61Warren County85.7
62Yadkin County85.6
63Lee County85.6
64Rutherford County85.5
65McDowell County85.4
66Swain County85.1
67Alexander County85
68Bladen County85
69Edgecombe County84.6
70Chowan County84.5
71Vance County84.4
72Columbus County84
73Randolph County83.9
74Hertford County83.8
74Rockingham County83.8
76Washington County83.6
77Jones County83.4
78Burke County83.3
79Richmond County82.7
80Graham County82.5
81Martin County82.5
82Anson County82.5
83Caswell County82.5
84Montgomery County82.3
85Wilson County82.2
86Sampson County81.8
87Caldwell County81.5
88Scotland County81.3
89Wilkes County81.2
90Lenoir County81
90Surry County81
92Northampton County81
93Bertie County80.2
94Halifax County79.9
95Duplin County79.7
96Alleghany County79.5
97Hyde County78.7
98Robeson County77.9
99Greene County77.6
100Tyrrell County76.2

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 counties 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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 (Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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, Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021. 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. Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021.

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, Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2021,
  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: Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021. 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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-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: Counties in North Carolina by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2021
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-counties?period=2021.
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. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2021/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2021-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

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

Dare County, with 95.3% in 2021, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Tyrrell County, with 76.2% in 2021.

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. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

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

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings