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. The median across all 174 is +3.3%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Lillington, NC, up 123 places to #21.

Flip the list · Fastest growing, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01▲78Butner, NCNC8,112-4.0%−27.7 pts

02▲13Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.0%−5.9 pts

03▲111Elon, NCNC11,366-2.7%–

04▲8Williamston, NCNC5,086-2.6%−8.8 pts

05▲9Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-2.4%−10.3 pts

06▼2Half Moon, NCNC7,378-2.2%−7.6 pts

07▲60Piney Green, NCNC14,078-2.1%−31.7 pts

08▲37Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-2.0%−124.3 pts

09▼3Kinston, NCNC19,705-2.0%+4.4 pts

10▲12Marion, NCNC7,440-1.8%−5.5 pts

11▲42Long View, NCNC5,387-1.5%−48.2 pts

12▲18Washington, NCNC9,910-1.5%−7.1 pts

13▲93Murraysville, NCNC16,339-1.5%–

14▲7Henderson, NCNC15,013-1.2%−3.3 pts

15▼7Hamlet, NCNC5,870-1.1%+1.8 pts

16Clinton, NCNC8,466-0.9%−5.8 pts

17▼14Lumberton, NCNC18,955-0.9%−12.0 pts

18▲1Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-0.7%−8.4 pts

19▼17Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-0.7%+1.8 pts

20▲49Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-0.6%−26.2 pts

21▲123Lillington, NCNC5,040-0.5%−42.9 pts

22▲52Carrboro, NCNC20,962-0.4%−45.7 pts

23▲1Eden, NCNC15,500-0.4%−4.8 pts

24▲15Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-0.4%−19.0 pts

25▲2Lenoir, NCNC18,372-0.3%−18.6 pts

26▼3Forest City, NCNC7,410-0.2%−1.2 pts

27▼16Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-0.1%−13.8 pts

28▲62Asheville, NCNC93,523-0.1%−11.8 pts

29▼3Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.0%−18.9 pts

30▲16Lexington, NCNC20,238+0.3%−20.0 pts

31▼18Sawmills, NCNC5,105+0.4%−22.8 pts

32▼22Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.5%−0.5 pts

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

34▼17Roxboro, NCNC8,380+0.6%−18.0 pts

35▲83Ogden, NCNC8,249+0.6%−60.7 pts

36▲119Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+0.7%−27.1 pts

37▲44Greensboro, NCNC308,667+0.7%−21.3 pts

38▼29Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.7%−35.7 pts

39▲69Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+0.7%−36.6 pts

40▲17Salisbury, NCNC36,879+0.8%−13.8 pts

41▲24Shelby, NCNC23,309+0.8%−31.9 pts

42▲60Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1.0%−41.2 pts

43▼1Morganton, NCNC17,849+1.0%−13.8 pts

44▲28Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+1.0%−28.5 pts

45▲18Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+1.0%−37.6 pts

46▼28Wilson, NCNC49,572+1.1%−19.2 pts

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

48▲35Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+1.2%−113.8 pts

49▼24Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+1.3%−19.1 pts

50▼45Dunn, NCNC8,814+1.3%−9.0 pts

51▲58Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1.4%−53.3 pts

52▲43Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1.4%−37.8 pts

53▲29Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1.4%−48.8 pts

54▼22Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−33.6 pts

55▲76Woodfin, NCNC8,229+1.4%−16.2 pts

56▲4Trinity, NCNC7,274+1.5%−21.0 pts

57▲5Summerfield, NCNC11,327+1.5%−222.4 pts

58▼7Archdale, NCNC12,254+1.5%−29.5 pts

59▲12Asheboro, NCNC27,990+1.6%−30.9 pts

60▼6Nashville, NCNC5,911+1.7%−23.2 pts

61▲12Hickory, NCNC45,975+1.8%−29.6 pts

62▲36Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+1.8%−41.3 pts

63Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+1.8%–

64▼23Conover, NCNC8,938+1.9%−19.0 pts

65▲10High Point, NCNC120,571+1.9%−21.8 pts

66▼31Brevard, NCNC8,098+2.0%−24.0 pts

67▼24Albemarle, NCNC17,769+2.0%−3.0 pts

68Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+2.1%–

69▼62Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+2.2%+6.2 pts

70▼14Cherryville, NCNC6,523+2.4%−10.3 pts

71▲18Winterville, NCNC10,973+2.5%−68.6 pts

72▲6Morehead City, NCNC10,434+2.6%−24.6 pts

73▲56Cary, NCNC183,582+2.6%−112.9 pts

74▲36Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+2.7%−43.7 pts

75▲22Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+2.8%−26.7 pts

76▼42Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+2.8%−6.2 pts

77▲47Durham, NCNC305,561+2.8%−34.1 pts

78▲29Mocksville, NCNC6,282+2.8%−20.1 pts

79▲53Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+2.9%−21.9 pts

80▲20Raleigh, NCNC506,306+2.9%−29.9 pts

81▼32Mills River, NCNC7,504+2.9%–

82▲46Cramerton, NCNC5,713+2.9%−21.7 pts

83▼33King, NCNC7,977+2.9%−43.7 pts

84▲50Dallas, NCNC6,392+3.0%−10.0 pts

85▲2Gastonia, NCNC87,067+3.1%−18.0 pts

86▲35Walkertown, NCNC6,120+3.2%−230.9 pts

87▼56Midway, NCNC5,104+3.3%–

88▲47Concord, NCNC114,598+3.3%−101.4 pts

89▼53Oxford, NCNC8,985+3.3%−2.1 pts

90▼31Lewisville, NCNC14,421+3.3%−172.0 pts

91Clemmons, NCNC22,808+3.3%−126.3 pts

92▲21Charlotte, NCNC964,784+3.3%−33.2 pts

93▲18Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+3.5%–

94▼66Ayden, NCNC5,263+3.5%+6.0 pts

95▲63Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+3.5%−173.0 pts

96▼58Waynesville, NCNC11,006+3.6%−31.8 pts

97▲48Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.6%+0.4 pts

98▲17Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+3.6%–

99▲40Davidson, NCNC16,662+3.7%−72.8 pts

100▲42Westport, NCNC5,915+3.7%−55.8 pts

101▲46Midland, NCNC5,151+3.8%–

102▲20Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+3.8%+15.0 pts

103▼83Siler City, NCNC8,155+3.8%−41.1 pts

104▲32Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+3.8%−86.4 pts

105▼37Matthews, NCNC32,769+3.9%−58.2 pts

106▲57Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4.0%−212.2 pts

107▼43Sanford, NCNC34,138+4.0%−56.4 pts

108▼12Burlington, NCNC61,496+4.0%−10.1 pts

109▼5Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+4.2%−24.8 pts

110▲23Huntersville, NCNC68,535+4.2%−723.9 pts

111▼34Etowah, NCNC7,968+4.3%−33.8 pts

112▲31Pineville, NCNC11,851+4.3%−14.6 pts

113▲35Mooresville, NCNC55,842+4.4%−97.7 pts

114▲13Cornelius, NCNC35,094+4.4%−359.4 pts

115▲47Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+4.5%−63.6 pts

116▼55New Bern, NCNC34,724+4.6%−28.6 pts

117▼47Wilmington, NCNC126,809+4.6%−31.9 pts

118▼32Unionville, NCNC7,322+4.7%–

119▼16Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+4.7%–

120▲21Weddington, NCNC14,517+4.7%−71.3 pts

121▼2Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+4.7%−50.3 pts

122▼17Stallings, NCNC17,760+4.8%−39.3 pts

123▼39Boone, NCNC19,929+4.9%+0.6 pts

124▼12Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+5.1%−507.9 pts

125▼24Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−27.6 pts

126▼6Graham, NCNC20,131+5.2%−17.9 pts

127▼33Kernersville, NCNC29,128+5.2%−52.8 pts

128▼35Marvin, NCNC7,040+5.3%–

129▼3Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+5.6%−14.0 pts

130▲26Morrisville, NCNC32,466+6.0%−403.5 pts

131▼87Greenville, NCNC96,443+6.1%−28.4 pts

132▲8Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+6.1%−24.7 pts

133▼75Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+6.2%−39.3 pts

134▼82Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+6.3%–

135▼80Monroe, NCNC42,644+6.4%−56.3 pts

136▼135Havelock, NCNC17,430+6.4%−4.3 pts

137▼57Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+6.8%−71.0 pts

138▼109St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+6.8%−1.2 pts

139▼99Smithfield, NCNC13,114+7.3%−45.4 pts

140▼17Oak Island, NCNC9,337+7.6%–

141▼93Selma, NCNC7,406+7.9%−20.7 pts

142▼76Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.1%−2.8 pts

143▼58Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+8.1%–

144▲22St. James, NCNC7,318+8.3%–

145▼8Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+8.4%−17.6 pts

146▲21Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+8.5%−94.4 pts

147▼22Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+9.0%−15.3 pts

148▼2Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+9.4%–

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

150▲9Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+9.7%−889.4 pts

151▲1Mebane, NCNC21,952+9.8%−43.9 pts

152▼53East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+9.8%−17.9 pts

153▼23Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+10.1%−56.5 pts

154▼16Moyock, NCNC5,684+10.3%–

155▼39Garner, NCNC41,562+10.6%−8.0 pts

156▼64Shallotte, NCNC5,335+10.8%−30.6 pts

157▼3Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+11.0%−107.2 pts

158▼1Clayton, NCNC32,633+11.5%−35.2 pts

159▲10Rolesville, NCNC12,839+13.6%−43.6 pts

160▲8Surf City, NCNC5,142+13.7%−33.3 pts

161▼73Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+13.8%+20.2 pts

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

163▲7Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+17.6%+2.6 pts

164Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+18.4%–

165▼48Angier, NCNC9,410+18.5%−34.4 pts

166▼1Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+18.5%−54.6 pts

167▼14Apex, NCNC80,419+20.2%−286.7 pts

168▼17Zebulon, NCNC11,933+26.2%−1.3 pts

169▼19Locust, NCNC6,120+28.7%+3.3 pts

170▼9Leland, NCNC35,731+29.2%+20.7 pts

171▼7Hampstead, NCNC9,292+32.4%–

172▼12Wendell, NCNC19,687+33.4%−18.0 pts

173▼97Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+37.4%+23.5 pts

174▼137Northchase, NCNC5,896+53.5%–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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