RANKING · 2024 ACS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Fastest growing, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by population growth from the 2020 census to 2024. This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 174 is +3.3%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Northchase, NC, up 133 places to #1.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01▲133Northchase, NCNC5,896+53.5%–

02▲93Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+37.4%+23.5 pts

03▲8Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−18.0 pts

04▲3Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

05▲5Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+20.7 pts

06▲15Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+3.3 pts

07▲13Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−1.3 pts

08▲10Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−286.7 pts

09▼3Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+18.5%−54.6 pts

10▲44Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−34.4 pts

11Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

12▼11Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+17.6%+2.6 pts

13Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906+14.4%–

14▲69Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+13.8%+20.2 pts

15▼12Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−33.3 pts

16▼14Rolesville, NCNC12,839+13.6%−43.6 pts

17▼3Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−35.2 pts

18▼1Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+11.0%−107.2 pts

19▲60Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−30.6 pts

20▲35Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−8.0 pts

21▲12Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

22▲19Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+10.1%−56.5 pts

23▲49East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+9.8%−17.9 pts

24▼5Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−43.9 pts

25▼13Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+9.7%−889.4 pts

26▼4Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494+9.6%–

27▼2Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

28▲18Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+9.0%−15.3 pts

29▼25Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−94.4 pts

30▲4Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−17.6 pts

31▼26St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

32▲54Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

33▲72Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.1%−2.8 pts

34▲89Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−20.7 pts

35▲13Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

36▲95Smithfield, NCNC13,114+7.3%−45.4 pts

37▲105St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+6.8%−1.2 pts

38▲53Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+6.8%−71.0 pts

39▲131Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−4.3 pts

40▲76Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−56.3 pts

41▲78Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

42▲71Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+6.2%−39.3 pts

43▼12Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+6.1%−24.7 pts

44▲83Greenville, NCNC96,443+6.1%−28.4 pts

45▼30Morrisville, NCNC32,466+6.0%−403.5 pts

46▼1Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+5.6%−14.0 pts

47▲31Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

48▲29Kernersville, NCNC29,128+5.2%−52.8 pts

49▲2Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−17.9 pts

50▲20Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−27.6 pts

51▲8Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+5.1%−507.9 pts

52▲35Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+0.6 pts

53▲13Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−39.3 pts

54▼2Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−50.3 pts

55▼25Weddington, NCNC14,517+4.7%−71.3 pts

56▲12Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

57▲28Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

58▲43Wilmington, NCNC126,809+4.6%−31.9 pts

59▲51New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−28.6 pts

60▼51Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+4.5%−63.6 pts

61▼17Cornelius, NCNC35,094+4.4%−359.4 pts

62▼39Mooresville, NCNC55,842+4.4%−97.7 pts

63▼35Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−14.6 pts

64▲30Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−33.8 pts

65▼27Huntersville, NCNC68,535+4.2%−723.9 pts

66▲1Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−24.8 pts

67▲8Burlington, NCNC61,496+4.0%−10.1 pts

68▲39Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−56.4 pts

69▼61Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4.0%−212.2 pts

70▲33Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−58.2 pts

71▼36Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−86.4 pts

72▲79Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−41.1 pts

73▼24Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+3.8%+15.0 pts

74▼50Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

75▼46Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−55.8 pts

76▼44Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−72.8 pts

77▼21Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

78▼52Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+0.4 pts

79▲54Waynesville, NCNC11,006+3.6%−31.8 pts

80▼67Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+3.5%−173.0 pts

81▲62Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%+6.0 pts

82▼22Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

83▼25Charlotte, NCNC964,784+3.3%−33.2 pts

84▼4Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−126.3 pts

85▲27Lewisville, NCNC14,421+3.3%−172.0 pts

86▲49Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−2.1 pts

87▼51Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−101.4 pts

88▲52Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

89▼39Walkertown, NCNC6,120+3.2%−230.9 pts

90▼6Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−18.0 pts

91▼54Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−10.0 pts

92▲29King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−43.7 pts

93▼50Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−21.7 pts

94▲28Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

95▼24Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−29.9 pts

96▼57Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+2.9%−21.9 pts

97▼33Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−20.1 pts

98▼51Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−34.1 pts

99▲38Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+2.8%−6.2 pts

100▼26Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+2.8%−26.7 pts

101▼40Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−43.7 pts

102▼60Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−112.9 pts

103▼10Morehead City, NCNC10,434+2.6%−24.6 pts

104▼22Winterville, NCNC10,973+2.5%−68.6 pts

105▲10Cherryville, NCNC6,523+2.4%−10.3 pts

106▲58Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+2.2%+6.2 pts

107Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

108▲20Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−3.0 pts

109▲27Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−24.0 pts

110▼14High Point, NCNC120,571+1.9%−21.8 pts

111▲19Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−19.0 pts

112Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

113▼40Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+1.8%−41.3 pts

114▼16Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−29.6 pts

115▲2Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−23.2 pts

116▼16Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−30.9 pts

117▲3Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−29.5 pts

118▼9Summerfield, NCNC11,327+1.5%−222.4 pts

119▼8Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−21.0 pts

120▼80Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−16.2 pts

121▲18Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−33.6 pts

122▼33Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−48.8 pts

123▼47Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1.4%−37.8 pts

124▼62Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1.4%−53.3 pts

125▲41Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−9.0 pts

126▲20Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+1.3%−19.1 pts

127▼39Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+1.2%−113.8 pts

128▼4Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+1.1%−58.8 pts

129▲24Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−19.2 pts

130▼22Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+1.0%−37.6 pts

131▼32Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+1.0%−28.5 pts

132▼3Morganton, NCNC17,849+1.0%−13.8 pts

133▼64Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1.0%−41.2 pts

134▼28Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−31.9 pts

135▼21Salisbury, NCNC36,879+0.8%−13.8 pts

136▼73Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+0.7%−36.6 pts

137▲25Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.7%−35.7 pts

138▼48Greensboro, NCNC308,667+0.7%−21.3 pts

139▼123Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+0.7%−27.1 pts

140▼87Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−60.7 pts

141▲13Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−18.0 pts

142▼4Thomasville, NCNC27,733+0.5%−23.8 pts

143▲18Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−0.5 pts

144▲14Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−22.8 pts

145▼20Lexington, NCNC20,238+0.3%−20.0 pts

146▼1Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.0%−18.9 pts

147▼66Asheville, NCNC93,523-0.1%−11.8 pts

148▲12Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-0.1%−13.8 pts

149▼1Forest City, NCNC7,410-0.2%−1.2 pts

150▼6Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−18.6 pts

151▼19Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-0.4%−19.0 pts

152▼5Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−4.8 pts

153▼56Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−45.7 pts

154▼127Lillington, NCNC5,040-0.5%−42.9 pts

155▼53Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-0.6%−26.2 pts

156▲13Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-0.7%+1.8 pts

157▼5Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-0.7%−8.4 pts

158▲10Lumberton, NCNC18,955-0.9%−12.0 pts

159▼4Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−5.8 pts

160▲3Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%+1.8 pts

161▼11Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−3.3 pts

162▼97Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

163▼22Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−7.1 pts

164▼46Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−48.2 pts

165▼16Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−5.5 pts

166▼1Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%+4.4 pts

167▼41Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-2.0%−124.3 pts

168▼64Piney Green, NCNC14,078-2.1%−31.7 pts

169▼2Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−7.6 pts

170▼13Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-2.4%−10.3 pts

171▼12Williamston, NCNC5,086-2.6%−8.8 pts

172▼115Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

173▼17Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−5.9 pts

174▼82Butner, NCNC8,112-4.0%−27.7 pts

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES