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%+169%

03Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−35%

04Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

05Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+241%

06Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+13%

07Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−5%

08Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−93%

09Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+18.5%−75%

10Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−65%

11Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

12Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+17.6%+18%

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

14Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+13.8%−313%

15Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−71%

16Rolesville, NCNC12,839+13.6%−76%

17Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−75%

18Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+11.0%−91%

19Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−74%

20Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−43%

21Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

22Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+10.1%−85%

23East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+9.8%−65%

24Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−82%

25Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+9.7%−99%

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

27Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

28Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+9.0%−63%

29Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−92%

30Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−68%

31St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

32Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

33Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.1%−26%

34Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−72%

35Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

36Smithfield, NCNC13,114+7.3%−86%

37St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+6.8%−15%

38Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+6.8%−91%

39Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−40%

40Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−90%

41Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

42Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+6.2%−86%

43Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+6.1%−80%

44Greenville, NCNC96,443+6.1%−82%

45Morrisville, NCNC32,466+6.0%−99%

46Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+5.6%−71%

47Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

48Kernersville, NCNC29,128+5.2%−91%

49Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−78%

50Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−84%

51Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+5.1%−99%

52Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+14%

53Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−89%

54Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−91%

55Weddington, NCNC14,517+4.7%−94%

56Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

57Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

58Wilmington, NCNC126,809+4.6%−87%

59New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−86%

60Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+4.5%−93%

61Cornelius, NCNC35,094+4.4%−99%

62Mooresville, NCNC55,842+4.4%−96%

63Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−77%

64Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−89%

65Huntersville, NCNC68,535+4.2%−99%

66Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−86%

67Burlington, NCNC61,496+4.0%−71%

68Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−93%

69Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4.0%−98%

70Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−94%

71Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−96%

72Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−92%

73Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+3.8%−134%

74Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

75Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−94%

76Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−95%

77Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

78Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+11%

79Waynesville, NCNC11,006+3.6%−90%

80Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+3.5%−98%

81Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%−240%

82Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

83Charlotte, NCNC964,784+3.3%−91%

84Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−97%

85Lewisville, NCNC14,421+3.3%−98%

86Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−38%

87Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−97%

88Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

89Walkertown, NCNC6,120+3.2%−99%

90Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−85%

91Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−77%

92King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−94%

93Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−88%

94Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

95Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−91%

96Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+2.9%−88%

97Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−88%

98Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−92%

99Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+2.8%−69%

100Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+2.8%−91%

101Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−94%

102Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−98%

103Morehead City, NCNC10,434+2.6%−90%

104Winterville, NCNC10,973+2.5%−96%

105Cherryville, NCNC6,523+2.4%−81%

106Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+2.2%−153%

107Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

108Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−60%

109Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−92%

110High Point, NCNC120,571+1.9%−92%

111Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−91%

112Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

113Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+1.8%−96%

114Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−94%

115Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−93%

116Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−95%

117Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−95%

118Summerfield, NCNC11,327+1.5%−99%

119Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−93%

120Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−92%

121Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−96%

122Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−97%

123Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1.4%−96%

124Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1.4%−98%

125Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−87%

126Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+1.3%−94%

127Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+1.2%−99%

128Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+1.1%−98%

129Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−95%

130Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+1.0%−97%

131Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+1.0%−97%

132Morganton, NCNC17,849+1.0%−93%

133Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1.0%−98%

134Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−97%

135Salisbury, NCNC36,879+0.8%−95%

136Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+0.7%−98%

137Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.7%−98%

138Greensboro, NCNC308,667+0.7%−97%

139Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+0.7%−98%

140Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−99%

141Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−97%

142Thomasville, NCNC27,733+0.5%−98%

143Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−50%

144Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−98%

145Lexington, NCNC20,238+0.3%−99%

146Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.0%−100%

147Asheville, NCNC93,523-0.1%−100%

148Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-0.1%−101%

149Forest City, NCNC7,410-0.2%−119%

150Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−102%

151Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-0.4%−102%

152Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−110%

153Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−101%

154Lillington, NCNC5,040-0.5%−101%

155Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-0.6%−102%

156Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-0.7%−72%

157Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-0.7%−110%

158Lumberton, NCNC18,955-0.9%−108%

159Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−120%

160Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%−63%

161Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−155%

162Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

163Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−127%

164Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−103%

165Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−148%

166Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%−69%

167Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-2.0%−102%

168Piney Green, NCNC14,078-2.1%−107%

169Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−141%

170Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-2.4%−131%

171Williamston, NCNC5,086-2.6%−142%

172Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

173Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−203%

174Butner, NCNC8,112-4.0%−117%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES