RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 170 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

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Havelock, NCNC17,430-19.8%−285%

02Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-13.8%+443%

03Lumberton, NCNC18,955-11.7%−205%

04Half Moon, NCNC7,378-9.7%−280%

05Dunn, NCNC8,814-8.8%−185%

06Kinston, NCNC19,705-8.2%+29%

07Goldsboro, NCNC35,012-7.6%+86%

08Hamlet, NCNC5,870-7.2%+152%

09Laurinburg, NCNC14,582-6.2%−117%

10Tarboro, NCNC10,979-6.1%−764%

11Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-5.5%−140%

12Williamston, NCNC5,086-4.8%−177%

13Sawmills, NCNC5,105-4.2%−118%

14Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-3.3%−142%

15Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.3%−213%

16Clinton, NCNC8,466-3.0%−161%

17Roxboro, NCNC8,380-2.7%−115%

18Wilson, NCNC49,572-2.7%−113%

19Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-2.5%−133%

20Siler City, NCNC8,155-2.3%−105%

21Henderson, NCNC15,013-2.0%−195%

22Marion, NCNC7,440-1.5%−141%

23Forest City, NCNC7,410-1.3%−234%

24Eden, NCNC15,500-0.7%−116%

25Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622-0.3%−101%

26Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.4%−98%

27Lenoir, NCNC18,372+0.7%−96%

28Ayden, NCNC5,263+0.9%−137%

29St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+1.1%−87%

30Washington, NCNC9,910+1.3%−76%

31Midway, NCNC5,104+1.3%–

32Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−96%

33Thomasville, NCNC27,733+1.6%−93%

34Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+1.6%−82%

35Brevard, NCNC8,098+1.8%−93%

36Oxford, NCNC8,985+2.0%−63%

37Northchase, NCNC5,896+2.5%–

38Waynesville, NCNC11,006+2.7%−92%

39Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+2.8%−85%

40Smithfield, NCNC13,114+3.0%−94%

41Conover, NCNC8,938+3.1%−85%

42Morganton, NCNC17,849+3.3%−78%

43Albemarle, NCNC17,769+3.3%−33%

44Greenville, NCNC96,443+3.5%−90%

45Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+3.7%−97%

46Lexington, NCNC20,238+3.7%−82%

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+4.0%−93%

48Selma, NCNC7,406+4.0%−86%

49Mills River, NCNC7,504+4.1%–

50King, NCNC7,977+4.2%−91%

51Archdale, NCNC12,254+4.3%−86%

52Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+4.4%–

53Long View, NCNC5,387+4.5%−90%

54Nashville, NCNC5,911+5.2%−79%

55Monroe, NCNC42,644+5.4%−91%

56Cherryville, NCNC6,523+5.5%−57%

57Salisbury, NCNC36,879+5.6%−62%

58Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+5.8%−87%

59Lewisville, NCNC14,421+5.9%−97%

60Trinity, NCNC7,274+5.9%−74%

61New Bern, NCNC34,724+6.0%−82%

62Summerfield, NCNC11,327+7.0%−97%

63Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+7.4%−81%

64Sanford, NCNC34,138+7.7%−87%

65Shelby, NCNC23,309+7.8%−76%

66Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.2%−24%

67Piney Green, NCNC14,078+8.2%−72%

68Matthews, NCNC32,769+8.2%−87%

69Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+8.3%−68%

70Wilmington, NCNC126,809+8.4%−77%

71Asheboro, NCNC27,990+8.6%−74%

72Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+8.7%−71%

73Hickory, NCNC45,975+8.7%−72%

74Carrboro, NCNC20,962+8.7%−81%

75High Point, NCNC120,571+9.3%−61%

76Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+9.7%−30%

77Etowah, NCNC7,968+10.1%−74%

78Morehead City, NCNC10,434+10.3%−62%

79Butner, NCNC8,112+10.6%−55%

80Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+10.6%−86%

81Greensboro, NCNC308,667+10.9%−50%

82Fletcher, NCNC8,373+11.1%−78%

83Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+11.4%−90%

84Boone, NCNC19,929+11.5%+167%

85Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+11.8%–

86Unionville, NCNC7,322+12.0%–

87Gastonia, NCNC87,067+12.1%−43%

88Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+12.9%−299%

89Winterville, NCNC10,973+12.9%−82%

90Asheville, NCNC93,523+13.4%+14%

91Clemmons, NCNC22,808+13.6%−90%

92Shallotte, NCNC5,335+13.9%−67%

93Marvin, NCNC7,040+14.0%–

94Kernersville, NCNC29,128+14.4%−75%

95Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+14.6%−63%

96Burlington, NCNC61,496+14.7%+4%

97Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+15.0%−49%

98Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+15.2%−65%

99East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+15.3%−45%

100Raleigh, NCNC506,306+15.8%−52%

101Statesville, NCNC32,181+15.8%−52%

102Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+16.1%−62%

103Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+16.3%–

104Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+16.4%−43%

105Stallings, NCNC17,760+16.5%−63%

106Murraysville, NCNC16,339+16.7%–

107Mocksville, NCNC6,282+16.8%−27%

108Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+17.3%−54%

109Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+17.4%−68%

110Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+18.0%−61%

111Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+19.2%–

112Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+19.3%−96%

113Charlotte, NCNC964,784+19.6%−46%

114Elon, NCNC11,366+20.4%–

115Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+20.8%–

116Garner, NCNC41,562+21.0%+13%

117Angier, NCNC9,410+21.0%−60%

118Ogden, NCNC8,249+21.2%−65%

119Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+21.2%−61%

120Graham, NCNC20,131+21.2%−8%

121Walkertown, NCNC6,120+21.8%−91%

122Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+23.3%−309%

123Oak Island, NCNC9,337+23.8%–

124Durham, NCNC305,561+24.2%−35%

125Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+24.6%+1%

126Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+26.0%+33%

127Cornelius, NCNC35,094+26.3%−93%

128Cramerton, NCNC5,713+27.2%+11%

129Cary, NCNC183,582+29.2%−75%

130Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+29.3%−56%

131Woodfin, NCNC8,229+29.6%+68%

132Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+29.6%+20%

133Huntersville, NCNC68,535+31.2%−96%

134Dallas, NCNC6,392+32.1%+148%

135Concord, NCNC114,598+33.1%−68%

136Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+34.0%−62%

137Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+34.1%+32%

138Moyock, NCNC5,684+37.1%–

139Davidson, NCNC16,662+38.0%−50%

140Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+39.2%+27%

141Weddington, NCNC14,517+39.3%−48%

142Westport, NCNC5,915+41.7%−30%

143Pineville, NCNC11,851+41.8%+121%

144Lillington, NCNC5,040+48.2%+14%

145Belmont, NCNC16,415+49.0%+1424%

146Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+50.5%–

147Midland, NCNC5,151+52.4%–

148Mooresville, NCNC55,842+53.4%−48%

149Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494+53.8%–

150Locust, NCNC6,120+54.8%+116%

151Zebulon, NCNC11,933+55.7%+103%

152Mebane, NCNC21,952+56.2%+5%

153Apex, NCNC80,419+56.8%−81%

154Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+58.1%−51%

155Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+58.7%+112%

156Morrisville, NCNC32,466+59.5%−85%

157Clayton, NCNC32,633+63.2%+36%

158Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+64.6%−63%

159Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+67.2%−93%

160Wendell, NCNC19,687+67.5%+31%

161Leland, NCNC35,731+69.4%+709%

162Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+70.3%+3%

163Knightdale, NCNC23,144+70.5%−67%

164Hampstead, NCNC9,292+71.8%–

165Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+90.4%+24%

166St. James, NCNC7,318+106.3%–

167Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+108.3%+5%

168Surf City, NCNC5,142+108.7%+132%

169Rolesville, NCNC12,839+150.3%+163%

170Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+228.9%+1433%

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES