RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina cities · 2010

North Carolina cities with the steepest population decline since the prior decennial census. This list covers the 161 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

01Kinston, NCNC19,705-8.5%+34%

02Havelock, NCNC17,430-7.6%−171%

03St. Stephens, NCNC9,457-7.2%−189%

04Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-7.1%−190%

05Goldsboro, NCNC35,012-6.7%+63%

06Williamston, NCNC5,086-5.7%−192%

07Lexington, NCNC20,238-5.1%−125%

08Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165-4.8%−104%

09Smithfield, NCNC13,114-4.7%−109%

10Henderson, NCNC15,013-4.5%−313%

11Roxboro, NCNC8,380-3.8%−121%

12Silver Lake, NCNC6,563-3.3%−108%

13Eden, NCNC15,500-2.4%−154%

14Morganton, NCNC17,849-2.3%−115%

15Rockingham, NCNC8,815-1.2%−141%

16Trinity, NCNC7,274-1.1%−105%

17Forest City, NCNC7,410-1.0%−198%

18Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.2%−99%

19Clinton, NCNC8,466+0.5%−91%

20Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+0.6%−98%

21Dunn, NCNC8,814+0.7%−93%

22Albemarle, NCNC17,769+1.4%−71%

23Oxford, NCNC8,985+1.5%−73%

24Washington, NCNC9,910+1.7%−70%

25Tarboro, NCNC10,979+2.5%+172%

26Selma, NCNC7,406+2.7%−91%

27Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120+2.8%−79%

28Long View, NCNC5,387+3.2%−93%

29Oak Island, NCNC9,337+3.2%–

30Newton, NCNC13,822+3.2%−91%

31Lumberton, NCNC18,955+3.6%−68%

32Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+4.3%−52%

33Shelby, NCNC23,309+4.3%−87%

34Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+4.5%−88%

35Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+4.8%–

36Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+5.1%−96%

37Statesville, NCNC32,181+5.2%−84%

38Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+5.2%−89%

39Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+6.2%−43%

40Sawmills, NCNC5,105+6.5%−72%

41Ayden, NCNC5,263+6.7%−369%

42Waynesville, NCNC11,006+6.9%−81%

43Cherryville, NCNC6,523+7.4%−41%

44Hickory, NCNC45,975+7.5%−76%

45Hamlet, NCNC5,870+7.9%−376%

46Gastonia, NCNC87,067+8.2%−61%

47Lenoir, NCNC18,372+8.5%−53%

48Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+8.7%−57%

49Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+8.9%−238%

50Zebulon, NCNC11,933+9.6%−65%

51Lillington, NCNC5,040+9.6%−77%

52Graham, NCNC20,131+10.3%−55%

53Wilson, NCNC49,572+10.7%−47%

54Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+10.7%−23%

55Burlington, NCNC61,496+11.2%−20%

56Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+11.8%−58%

57Brevard, NCNC8,098+12.1%−54%

58Morehead City, NCNC10,434+12.6%−54%

59Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+13.0%−34%

60Siler City, NCNC8,155+13.2%−71%

61Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+13.3%−66%

62Piney Green, NCNC14,078+14.0%−53%

63Asheboro, NCNC27,990+15.4%−53%

64Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+15.5%−36%

65Belmont, NCNC16,415+15.7%+390%

66King, NCNC7,977+16.0%−66%

67Walkertown, NCNC6,120+16.6%−93%

68Carrboro, NCNC20,962+16.7%−63%

69Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+17.5%−32%

70East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+20.3%−27%

71Greensboro, NCNC308,667+20.4%−7%

72Mocksville, NCNC6,282+20.9%−9%

73Sanford, NCNC34,138+21.0%−65%

74Asheville, NCNC93,523+21.1%+79%

75Locust, NCNC6,120+21.3%−16%

76Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+21.4%−27%

77High Point, NCNC120,571+21.6%−9%

78Durham, NCNC305,561+22.1%−40%

79Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+22.4%+21%

80Matthews, NCNC32,769+22.9%−63%

81Ogden, NCNC8,249+23.4%−62%

82Unionville, NCNC7,322+23.6%–

83Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+23.6%−20%

84Conover, NCNC8,938+23.6%+13%

85Nashville, NCNC5,911+24.2%−3%

86Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+24.6%−63%

87Monroe, NCNC42,644+25.0%−60%

88Half Moon, NCNC7,378+25.7%+378%

89Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+26.1%−39%

90Archdale, NCNC12,254+26.6%−14%

91Boone, NCNC19,929+27.1%+528%

92Salisbury, NCNC36,879+27.2%+86%

93Angier, NCNC9,410+27.2%−49%

94New Bern, NCNC34,724+27.7%−17%

95Butner, NCNC8,112+31.1%+31%

96Dallas, NCNC6,392+31.9%+147%

97Surf City, NCNC5,142+33.0%−30%

98Clemmons, NCNC22,808+34.7%−73%

99Kernersville, NCNC29,128+35.0%−40%

100Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+35.1%−6%

101Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+35.2%−61%

102Thomasville, NCNC27,733+35.2%+45%

103Charlotte, NCNC964,784+35.2%−4%

104Wendell, NCNC19,687+37.6%−27%

105Greenville, NCNC96,443+39.8%+15%

106Cramerton, NCNC5,713+40.0%+63%

107Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+40.1%−41%

108Wilmington, NCNC126,809+40.4%+10%

109Concord, NCNC114,598+41.2%−61%

110Weddington, NCNC14,517+41.3%−46%

111Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+42.0%+70%

112Cary, NCNC183,582+43.1%−63%

113Lewisville, NCNC14,421+43.2%−75%

114Garner, NCNC41,562+45.0%+141%

115Summerfield, NCNC11,327+45.8%−80%

116Raleigh, NCNC506,306+46.3%+41%

117Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+46.6%+51%

118Spring Lake, NCNC11,252+47.7%+526%

119Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+52.3%+80%

120Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+52.6%+252%

121Davidson, NCNC16,662+53.3%−30%

122Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+54.5%−0%

123Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+55.1%–

124Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494+56.2%–

125Mebane, NCNC21,952+56.4%+5%

126Marion, NCNC7,440+58.6%+1468%

127Wadesboro, NCNC5,035+63.7%−2595%

128Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+65.7%+10%

129Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+68.1%+24%

130Fletcher, NCNC8,373+71.7%+43%

131Mooresville, NCNC55,842+73.8%−28%

132Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+74.0%−763%

133Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+80.8%+4%

134Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+84.8%+83%

135Apex, NCNC80,419+85.4%−72%

136Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+86.8%+235%

137Huntersville, NCNC68,535+87.4%−88%

138Knightdale, NCNC23,144+91.4%−58%

139Winterville, NCNC10,973+93.5%+31%

140Woodfin, NCNC8,229+93.6%+432%

141Murraysville, NCNC16,339+95.3%–

142Westport, NCNC5,915+100.7%+69%

143Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+105.7%–

144Cornelius, NCNC35,094+107.8%−70%

145Pineville, NCNC11,851+116.8%+519%

146Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+127.1%+74%

147Clayton, NCNC32,633+131.1%+181%

148Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+139.3%+18%

149Etowah, NCNC7,968+151.0%+297%

150Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+156.5%−11%

151Shallotte, NCNC5,335+166.1%+300%

152Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+168.3%−81%

153Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+181.5%−65%

154Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+192.8%–

155Morrisville, NCNC32,466+256.7%−37%

156Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+275.6%+168%

157St. James, NCNC7,318+293.7%–

158Rolesville, NCNC12,839+317.4%+455%

159Stallings, NCNC17,760+333.7%+657%

160Marvin, NCNC7,040+437.0%–

161Leland, NCNC35,731+598.0%+6877%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

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