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.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Northchase, NCNC5,896+53.5%–

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

03Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−18.0 pts

04Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

05Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+20.7 pts

06Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+3.3 pts

07Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−1.3 pts

08Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−286.7 pts

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

10Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−34.4 pts

11Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

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

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

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

15Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−33.3 pts

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

17Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−35.2 pts

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

19Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−30.6 pts

20Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−8.0 pts

21Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

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

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

24Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−43.9 pts

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

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

27Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

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

29Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−94.4 pts

30Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−17.6 pts

31St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

32Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

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

34Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−20.7 pts

35Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

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

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

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

39Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−4.3 pts

40Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−56.3 pts

41Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

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

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

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

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

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

47Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

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

49Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−17.9 pts

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

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

52Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+0.6 pts

53Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−39.3 pts

54Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−50.3 pts

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

56Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

57Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

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

59New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−28.6 pts

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

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

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

63Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−14.6 pts

64Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−33.8 pts

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

66Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−24.8 pts

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

68Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−56.4 pts

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

70Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−58.2 pts

71Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−86.4 pts

72Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−41.1 pts

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

74Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

75Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−55.8 pts

76Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−72.8 pts

77Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

78Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+0.4 pts

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

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

81Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%+6.0 pts

82Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

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

84Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−126.3 pts

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

86Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−2.1 pts

87Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−101.4 pts

88Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

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

90Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−18.0 pts

91Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−10.0 pts

92King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−43.7 pts

93Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−21.7 pts

94Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

95Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−29.9 pts

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

97Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−20.1 pts

98Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−34.1 pts

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

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

101Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−43.7 pts

102Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−112.9 pts

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

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

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

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

107Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

108Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−3.0 pts

109Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−24.0 pts

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

111Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−19.0 pts

112Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

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

114Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−29.6 pts

115Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−23.2 pts

116Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−30.9 pts

117Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−29.5 pts

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

119Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−21.0 pts

120Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−16.2 pts

121Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−33.6 pts

122Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−48.8 pts

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

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

125Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−9.0 pts

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

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

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

129Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−19.2 pts

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

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

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

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

134Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−31.9 pts

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

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

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

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

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

140Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−60.7 pts

141Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−18.0 pts

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

143Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−0.5 pts

144Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−22.8 pts

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

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

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

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

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

150Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−18.6 pts

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

152Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−4.8 pts

153Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−45.7 pts

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

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

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

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

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

159Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−5.8 pts

160Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%+1.8 pts

161Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−3.3 pts

162Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

163Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−7.1 pts

164Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−48.2 pts

165Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−5.5 pts

166Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%+4.4 pts

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

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

169Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−7.6 pts

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

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

172Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

173Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−5.9 pts

174Butner, NCNC8,112-4.0%−27.7 pts

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES