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%−117%

02Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−203%

03Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

04Williamston, NCNC5,086-2.6%−142%

05Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-2.4%−131%

06Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−141%

07Piney Green, NCNC14,078-2.1%−107%

08Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-2.0%−102%

09Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%−69%

10Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−148%

11Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−103%

12Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−127%

13Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

14Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−155%

15Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%−63%

16Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−120%

17Lumberton, NCNC18,955-0.9%−108%

18Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-0.7%−110%

19Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-0.7%−72%

20Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-0.6%−102%

21Lillington, NCNC5,040-0.5%−101%

22Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−101%

23Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−110%

24Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-0.4%−102%

25Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−102%

26Forest City, NCNC7,410-0.2%−119%

27Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-0.1%−101%

28Asheville, NCNC93,523-0.1%−100%

29Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.0%−100%

30Lexington, NCNC20,238+0.3%−99%

31Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−98%

32Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−50%

33Thomasville, NCNC27,733+0.5%−98%

34Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−97%

35Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−99%

36Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+0.7%−98%

37Greensboro, NCNC308,667+0.7%−97%

38Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.7%−98%

39Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+0.7%−98%

40Salisbury, NCNC36,879+0.8%−95%

41Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−97%

42Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1.0%−98%

43Morganton, NCNC17,849+1.0%−93%

44Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+1.0%−97%

45Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+1.0%−97%

46Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−95%

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+1.1%−98%

48Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+1.2%−99%

49Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+1.3%−94%

50Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−87%

51Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1.4%−98%

52Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1.4%−96%

53Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−97%

54Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−96%

55Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−92%

56Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−93%

57Summerfield, NCNC11,327+1.5%−99%

58Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−95%

59Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−95%

60Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−93%

61Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−94%

62Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+1.8%−96%

63Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

64Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−91%

65High Point, NCNC120,571+1.9%−92%

66Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−92%

67Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−60%

68Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

69Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+2.2%−153%

70Cherryville, NCNC6,523+2.4%−81%

71Winterville, NCNC10,973+2.5%−96%

72Morehead City, NCNC10,434+2.6%−90%

73Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−98%

74Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−94%

75Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+2.8%−91%

76Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+2.8%−69%

77Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−92%

78Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−88%

79Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+2.9%−88%

80Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−91%

81Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

82Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−88%

83King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−94%

84Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−77%

85Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−85%

86Walkertown, NCNC6,120+3.2%−99%

87Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

88Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−97%

89Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−38%

90Lewisville, NCNC14,421+3.3%−98%

91Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−97%

92Charlotte, NCNC964,784+3.3%−91%

93Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

94Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%−240%

95Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+3.5%−98%

96Waynesville, NCNC11,006+3.6%−90%

97Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+11%

98Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

99Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−95%

100Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−94%

101Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

102Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+3.8%−134%

103Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−92%

104Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−96%

105Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−94%

106Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4.0%−98%

107Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−93%

108Burlington, NCNC61,496+4.0%−71%

109Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−86%

110Huntersville, NCNC68,535+4.2%−99%

111Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−89%

112Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−77%

113Mooresville, NCNC55,842+4.4%−96%

114Cornelius, NCNC35,094+4.4%−99%

115Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+4.5%−93%

116New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−86%

117Wilmington, NCNC126,809+4.6%−87%

118Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

119Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

120Weddington, NCNC14,517+4.7%−94%

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−91%

122Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−89%

123Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+14%

124Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+5.1%−99%

125Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−84%

126Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−78%

127Kernersville, NCNC29,128+5.2%−91%

128Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

129Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+5.6%−71%

130Morrisville, NCNC32,466+6.0%−99%

131Greenville, NCNC96,443+6.1%−82%

132Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+6.1%−80%

133Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+6.2%−86%

134Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

135Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−90%

136Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−40%

137Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+6.8%−91%

138St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+6.8%−15%

139Smithfield, NCNC13,114+7.3%−86%

140Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

141Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−72%

142Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.1%−26%

143Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

144St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

145Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−68%

146Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−92%

147Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+9.0%−63%

148Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

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

150Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+9.7%−99%

151Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−82%

152East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+9.8%−65%

153Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+10.1%−85%

154Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

155Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−43%

156Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−74%

157Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+11.0%−91%

158Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−75%

159Rolesville, NCNC12,839+13.6%−76%

160Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−71%

161Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+13.8%−313%

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

163Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+17.6%+18%

164Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

165Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−65%

166Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+18.5%−75%

167Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−93%

168Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−5%

169Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+13%

170Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+241%

171Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

172Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−35%

173Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+37.4%+169%

174Northchase, NCNC5,896+53.5%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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