RANKING · 2024 ACS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the steepest population decline 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

01Butner, NCNC8,112-4.0%−27.7 pts

02Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−5.9 pts

03Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

04Williamston, NCNC5,086-2.6%−8.8 pts

05Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-2.4%−10.3 pts

06Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−7.6 pts

07Piney Green, NCNC14,078-2.1%−31.7 pts

08Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-2.0%−124.3 pts

09Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%+4.4 pts

10Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−5.5 pts

11Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−48.2 pts

12Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−7.1 pts

13Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

14Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−3.3 pts

15Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%+1.8 pts

16Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−5.8 pts

17Lumberton, NCNC18,955-0.9%−12.0 pts

18Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-0.7%−8.4 pts

19Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-0.7%+1.8 pts

20Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-0.6%−26.2 pts

21Lillington, NCNC5,040-0.5%−42.9 pts

22Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−45.7 pts

23Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−4.8 pts

24Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-0.4%−19.0 pts

25Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−18.6 pts

26Forest City, NCNC7,410-0.2%−1.2 pts

27Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-0.1%−13.8 pts

28Asheville, NCNC93,523-0.1%−11.8 pts

29Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.0%−18.9 pts

30Lexington, NCNC20,238+0.3%−20.0 pts

31Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−22.8 pts

32Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−0.5 pts

33Thomasville, NCNC27,733+0.5%−23.8 pts

34Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−18.0 pts

35Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−60.7 pts

36Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+0.7%−27.1 pts

37Greensboro, NCNC308,667+0.7%−21.3 pts

38Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.7%−35.7 pts

39Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+0.7%−36.6 pts

40Salisbury, NCNC36,879+0.8%−13.8 pts

41Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−31.9 pts

42Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1.0%−41.2 pts

43Morganton, NCNC17,849+1.0%−13.8 pts

44Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+1.0%−28.5 pts

45Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+1.0%−37.6 pts

46Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−19.2 pts

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+1.1%−58.8 pts

48Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+1.2%−113.8 pts

49Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+1.3%−19.1 pts

50Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−9.0 pts

51Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1.4%−53.3 pts

52Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1.4%−37.8 pts

53Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−48.8 pts

54Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−33.6 pts

55Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−16.2 pts

56Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−21.0 pts

57Summerfield, NCNC11,327+1.5%−222.4 pts

58Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−29.5 pts

59Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−30.9 pts

60Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−23.2 pts

61Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−29.6 pts

62Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+1.8%−41.3 pts

63Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

64Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−19.0 pts

65High Point, NCNC120,571+1.9%−21.8 pts

66Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−24.0 pts

67Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−3.0 pts

68Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

69Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+2.2%+6.2 pts

70Cherryville, NCNC6,523+2.4%−10.3 pts

71Winterville, NCNC10,973+2.5%−68.6 pts

72Morehead City, NCNC10,434+2.6%−24.6 pts

73Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−112.9 pts

74Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−43.7 pts

75Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+2.8%−26.7 pts

76Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+2.8%−6.2 pts

77Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−34.1 pts

78Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−20.1 pts

79Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+2.9%−21.9 pts

80Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−29.9 pts

81Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

82Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−21.7 pts

83King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−43.7 pts

84Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−10.0 pts

85Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−18.0 pts

86Walkertown, NCNC6,120+3.2%−230.9 pts

87Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

88Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−101.4 pts

89Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−2.1 pts

90Lewisville, NCNC14,421+3.3%−172.0 pts

91Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−126.3 pts

92Charlotte, NCNC964,784+3.3%−33.2 pts

93Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

94Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%+6.0 pts

95Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+3.5%−173.0 pts

96Waynesville, NCNC11,006+3.6%−31.8 pts

97Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+0.4 pts

98Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

99Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−72.8 pts

100Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−55.8 pts

101Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

102Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+3.8%+15.0 pts

103Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−41.1 pts

104Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−86.4 pts

105Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−58.2 pts

106Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4.0%−212.2 pts

107Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−56.4 pts

108Burlington, NCNC61,496+4.0%−10.1 pts

109Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−24.8 pts

110Huntersville, NCNC68,535+4.2%−723.9 pts

111Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−33.8 pts

112Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−14.6 pts

113Mooresville, NCNC55,842+4.4%−97.7 pts

114Cornelius, NCNC35,094+4.4%−359.4 pts

115Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+4.5%−63.6 pts

116New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−28.6 pts

117Wilmington, NCNC126,809+4.6%−31.9 pts

118Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

119Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

120Weddington, NCNC14,517+4.7%−71.3 pts

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−50.3 pts

122Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−39.3 pts

123Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+0.6 pts

124Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+5.1%−507.9 pts

125Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−27.6 pts

126Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−17.9 pts

127Kernersville, NCNC29,128+5.2%−52.8 pts

128Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

129Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+5.6%−14.0 pts

130Morrisville, NCNC32,466+6.0%−403.5 pts

131Greenville, NCNC96,443+6.1%−28.4 pts

132Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+6.1%−24.7 pts

133Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+6.2%−39.3 pts

134Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

135Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−56.3 pts

136Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−4.3 pts

137Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+6.8%−71.0 pts

138St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+6.8%−1.2 pts

139Smithfield, NCNC13,114+7.3%−45.4 pts

140Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

141Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−20.7 pts

142Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.1%−2.8 pts

143Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

144St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

145Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−17.6 pts

146Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−94.4 pts

147Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+9.0%−15.3 pts

148Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

149Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494+9.6%–

150Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+9.7%−889.4 pts

151Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−43.9 pts

152East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+9.8%−17.9 pts

153Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+10.1%−56.5 pts

154Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

155Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−8.0 pts

156Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−30.6 pts

157Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+11.0%−107.2 pts

158Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−35.2 pts

159Rolesville, NCNC12,839+13.6%−43.6 pts

160Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−33.3 pts

161Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+13.8%+20.2 pts

162Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906+14.4%–

163Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+17.6%+2.6 pts

164Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

165Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−34.4 pts

166Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+18.5%−54.6 pts

167Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−286.7 pts

168Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−1.3 pts

169Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+3.3 pts

170Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+20.7 pts

171Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

172Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−18.0 pts

173Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+37.4%+23.5 pts

174Northchase, NCNC5,896+53.5%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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