RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities with the steepest population decline from the 1990 census to 2000. This list covers the 151 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 –

01Cullowhee, NCNC7,973-11.2%–

02Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287-6.5%–

03Kinston, NCNC19,705-6.4%–

04Goldsboro, NCNC35,012-4.1%–

05Hamlet, NCNC5,870-2.9%–

06Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-2.6%–

07Ayden, NCNC5,263-2.5%–

08Tarboro, NCNC10,979+0.9%–

09Forest City, NCNC7,410+1.0%–

10Henderson, NCNC15,013+2.1%–

11Rockingham, NCNC8,815+2.9%–

12Belmont, NCNC16,415+3.2%–

13Marion, NCNC7,440+3.7%–

14Boone, NCNC19,929+4.3%–

15Eden, NCNC15,500+4.4%–

16Clinton, NCNC8,466+4.8%–

17Albemarle, NCNC17,769+5.0%–

18Oxford, NCNC8,985+5.4%–

19Half Moon, NCNC7,378+5.4%–

20Washington, NCNC9,910+5.6%–

21Williamston, NCNC5,086+6.2%–

22Spring Lake, NCNC11,252+7.6%–

23Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386+7.9%–

24St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+8.1%–

25Leland, NCNC35,731+8.6%–

26Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+9.0%–

27Dunn, NCNC8,814+10.3%–

28Havelock, NCNC17,430+10.7%–

29Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+10.9%–

30Lumberton, NCNC18,955+11.2%–

31Asheville, NCNC93,523+11.7%–

32Cherryville, NCNC6,523+12.7%–

33Dallas, NCNC6,392+12.9%–

34Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120+13.7%–

35Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+13.9%–

36Burlington, NCNC61,496+14.1%–

37Salisbury, NCNC36,879+14.6%–

38Morganton, NCNC17,849+14.7%–

39Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+14.9%–

40Woodfin, NCNC8,229+17.6%–

41Lenoir, NCNC18,372+18.3%–

42Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+18.6%–

43Roxboro, NCNC8,380+18.6%–

44Garner, NCNC41,562+18.6%–

45Pineville, NCNC11,851+18.9%–

46Reidsville, NCNC14,692+18.9%–

47Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+19.6%–

48Wilson, NCNC49,572+20.2%–

49Lexington, NCNC20,238+20.3%–

50Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+20.4%–

51Conover, NCNC8,938+20.8%–

52Gastonia, NCNC87,067+21.1%–

53Greensboro, NCNC308,667+22.0%–

54Trinity, NCNC7,274+22.5%–

55Mocksville, NCNC6,282+22.9%–

56Graham, NCNC20,131+23.1%–

57Sawmills, NCNC5,105+23.2%–

58High Point, NCNC120,571+23.7%–

59Butner, NCNC8,112+23.8%–

60Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+24.3%–

61Thomasville, NCNC27,733+24.3%–

62Cramerton, NCNC5,713+24.6%–

63Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+24.7%–

64Nashville, NCNC5,911+24.9%–

65Locust, NCNC6,120+25.4%–

66Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+25.7%–

67Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+25.9%–

68Brevard, NCNC8,098+26.0%–

69Morehead City, NCNC10,434+27.2%–

70Zebulon, NCNC11,933+27.5%–

71East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+27.7%–

72Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+27.8%–

73Selma, NCNC7,406+28.6%–

74Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+29.0%–

75Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+29.5%–

76Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+29.5%–

77Piney Green, NCNC14,078+29.5%–

78Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+30.8%–

79Archdale, NCNC12,254+31.0%–

80Hickory, NCNC45,975+31.4%–

81Asheboro, NCNC27,990+32.5%–

82Statesville, NCNC32,181+32.7%–

83Raleigh, NCNC506,306+32.8%–

84Shelby, NCNC23,309+32.8%–

85New Bern, NCNC34,724+33.2%–

86Greenville, NCNC96,443+34.5%–

87Newton, NCNC13,822+35.0%–

88Waynesville, NCNC11,006+35.4%–

89Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+36.4%–

90Wilmington, NCNC126,809+36.6%–

91Charlotte, NCNC964,784+36.6%–

92Durham, NCNC305,561+36.9%–

93Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+37.3%–

94Etowah, NCNC7,968+38.1%–

95Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+38.6%–

96Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+39.1%–

97Shallotte, NCNC5,335+41.5%–

98Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+42.2%–

99Lillington, NCNC5,040+42.3%–

100Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+43.1%–

101Stallings, NCNC17,760+44.1%–

102Siler City, NCNC8,155+44.9%–

103Carrboro, NCNC20,962+45.3%–

104Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+45.5%–

105Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+46.4%–

106Clayton, NCNC32,633+46.6%–

107King, NCNC7,977+46.6%–

108Long View, NCNC5,387+46.6%–

109Surf City, NCNC5,142+46.9%–

110Fletcher, NCNC8,373+50.2%–

111Wendell, NCNC19,687+51.4%–

112Smithfield, NCNC13,114+52.7%–

113Angier, NCNC9,410+53.0%–

114Mebane, NCNC21,952+53.7%–

115Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+54.7%–

116Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+55.0%–

117Rolesville, NCNC12,839+57.2%–

118Kernersville, NCNC29,128+58.0%–

119Westport, NCNC5,915+59.5%–

120Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+59.9%–

121Sanford, NCNC34,138+60.4%–

122Ogden, NCNC8,249+61.3%–

123Matthews, NCNC32,769+62.1%–

124Monroe, NCNC42,644+62.6%–

125Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+66.7%–

126Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+68.1%–

127Winterville, NCNC10,973+71.1%–

128Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+73.1%–

129Weddington, NCNC14,517+76.1%–

130Davidson, NCNC16,662+76.4%–

131Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+77.8%–

132Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+90.2%–

133Mooresville, NCNC55,842+102.0%–

134Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+102.9%–

135Concord, NCNC114,598+104.7%–

136Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+115.0%–

137Cary, NCNC183,582+115.6%–

138Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+118.2%–

139Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+122.3%–

140Clemmons, NCNC22,808+129.7%–

141Lewisville, NCNC14,421+175.3%–

142Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+176.5%–

143Knightdale, NCNC23,144+216.2%–

144Summerfield, NCNC11,327+223.9%–

145Walkertown, NCNC6,120+234.1%–

146Apex, NCNC80,419+306.8%–

147Cornelius, NCNC35,094+363.7%–

148Morrisville, NCNC32,466+409.6%–

149Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+513.0%–

150Huntersville, NCNC68,535+728.1%–

151Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+899.1%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

Download CSV (full list, 151 rows)

UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS