RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Fastest shrinking, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the steepest population decline from the 2010 census to 2020. This list covers the 170 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION GROWTHVS 2000

01Havelock, NCNC17,430-19.8%−30.6 pts

02Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-13.8%−11.3 pts

03Lumberton, NCNC18,955-11.7%−22.8 pts

04Half Moon, NCNC7,378-9.7%−15.1 pts

05Dunn, NCNC8,814-8.8%−19.1 pts

06Kinston, NCNC19,705-8.2%−1.8 pts

07Goldsboro, NCNC35,012-7.6%−3.5 pts

08Hamlet, NCNC5,870-7.2%−4.4 pts

09Laurinburg, NCNC14,582-6.2%−42.6 pts

10Tarboro, NCNC10,979-6.1%−7.0 pts

11Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-5.5%−19.1 pts

12Williamston, NCNC5,086-4.8%−11.0 pts

13Sawmills, NCNC5,105-4.2%−27.4 pts

14Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-3.3%−11.2 pts

15Rockingham, NCNC8,815-3.3%−6.2 pts

16Clinton, NCNC8,466-3.0%−7.8 pts

17Roxboro, NCNC8,380-2.7%−21.3 pts

18Wilson, NCNC49,572-2.7%−22.9 pts

19Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-2.5%−10.2 pts

20Siler City, NCNC8,155-2.3%−47.2 pts

21Henderson, NCNC15,013-2.0%−4.1 pts

22Marion, NCNC7,440-1.5%−5.3 pts

23Forest City, NCNC7,410-1.3%−2.3 pts

24Eden, NCNC15,500-0.7%−5.1 pts

25Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622-0.3%−20.7 pts

26Reidsville, NCNC14,692+0.4%−18.5 pts

27Lenoir, NCNC18,372+0.7%−17.6 pts

28Ayden, NCNC5,263+0.9%+3.4 pts

29St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+1.1%−7.0 pts

30Washington, NCNC9,910+1.3%−4.3 pts

31Midway, NCNC5,104+1.3%–

32Newton, NCNC13,822+1.4%−33.6 pts

33Thomasville, NCNC27,733+1.6%−22.7 pts

34Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+1.6%−7.3 pts

35Brevard, NCNC8,098+1.8%−24.2 pts

36Oxford, NCNC8,985+2.0%−3.4 pts

37Northchase, NCNC5,896+2.5%–

38Waynesville, NCNC11,006+2.7%−32.6 pts

39Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+2.8%−15.8 pts

40Smithfield, NCNC13,114+3.0%−49.7 pts

41Conover, NCNC8,938+3.1%−17.7 pts

42Morganton, NCNC17,849+3.3%−11.5 pts

43Albemarle, NCNC17,769+3.3%−1.6 pts

44Greenville, NCNC96,443+3.5%−31.0 pts

45Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+3.7%−118.6 pts

46Lexington, NCNC20,238+3.7%−16.6 pts

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+4.0%−55.9 pts

48Selma, NCNC7,406+4.0%−24.5 pts

49Mills River, NCNC7,504+4.1%–

50King, NCNC7,977+4.2%−42.4 pts

51Archdale, NCNC12,254+4.3%−26.7 pts

52Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+4.4%–

53Long View, NCNC5,387+4.5%−42.2 pts

54Nashville, NCNC5,911+5.2%−19.7 pts

55Monroe, NCNC42,644+5.4%−57.3 pts

56Cherryville, NCNC6,523+5.5%−7.2 pts

57Salisbury, NCNC36,879+5.6%−9.0 pts

58Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+5.8%−39.8 pts

59Lewisville, NCNC14,421+5.9%−169.4 pts

60Trinity, NCNC7,274+5.9%−16.6 pts

61New Bern, NCNC34,724+6.0%−27.2 pts

62Summerfield, NCNC11,327+7.0%−216.8 pts

63Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+7.4%−31.3 pts

64Sanford, NCNC34,138+7.7%−52.7 pts

65Shelby, NCNC23,309+7.8%−24.9 pts

66Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+8.2%−2.7 pts

67Piney Green, NCNC14,078+8.2%−21.3 pts

68Matthews, NCNC32,769+8.2%−53.9 pts

69Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+8.3%−17.4 pts

70Wilmington, NCNC126,809+8.4%−28.1 pts

71Asheboro, NCNC27,990+8.6%−23.9 pts

72Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+8.7%−20.8 pts

73Hickory, NCNC45,975+8.7%−22.7 pts

74Carrboro, NCNC20,962+8.7%−36.5 pts

75High Point, NCNC120,571+9.3%−14.4 pts

76Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+9.7%−4.2 pts

77Etowah, NCNC7,968+10.1%−28.0 pts

78Morehead City, NCNC10,434+10.3%−16.9 pts

79Butner, NCNC8,112+10.6%−13.2 pts

80Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+10.6%−67.1 pts

81Greensboro, NCNC308,667+10.9%−11.1 pts

82Fletcher, NCNC8,373+11.1%−39.0 pts

83Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+11.4%−103.6 pts

84Boone, NCNC19,929+11.5%+7.2 pts

85Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+11.8%–

86Unionville, NCNC7,322+12.0%–

87Gastonia, NCNC87,067+12.1%−9.0 pts

88Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+12.9%+19.3 pts

89Winterville, NCNC10,973+12.9%−58.2 pts

90Asheville, NCNC93,523+13.4%+1.7 pts

91Clemmons, NCNC22,808+13.6%−116.1 pts

92Shallotte, NCNC5,335+13.9%−27.6 pts

93Marvin, NCNC7,040+14.0%–

94Kernersville, NCNC29,128+14.4%−43.7 pts

95Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+14.6%−24.6 pts

96Burlington, NCNC61,496+14.7%+0.6 pts

97Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+15.0%−14.4 pts

98Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+15.2%−27.8 pts

99East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+15.3%−12.5 pts

100Raleigh, NCNC506,306+15.8%−17.0 pts

101Statesville, NCNC32,181+15.8%−16.9 pts

102Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+16.1%−26.1 pts

103Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+16.3%–

104Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+16.4%−12.6 pts

105Stallings, NCNC17,760+16.5%−27.6 pts

106Murraysville, NCNC16,339+16.7%–

107Mocksville, NCNC6,282+16.8%−6.1 pts

108Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+17.3%−20.0 pts

109Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+17.4%−37.3 pts

110Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+18.0%−28.4 pts

111Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+19.2%–

112Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+19.3%−493.7 pts

113Charlotte, NCNC964,784+19.6%−17.0 pts

114Elon, NCNC11,366+20.4%–

115Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+20.8%–

116Garner, NCNC41,562+21.0%+2.4 pts

117Angier, NCNC9,410+21.0%−31.9 pts

118Ogden, NCNC8,249+21.2%−40.1 pts

119Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+21.2%−33.8 pts

120Graham, NCNC20,131+21.2%−1.9 pts

121Walkertown, NCNC6,120+21.8%−212.3 pts

122Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+23.3%+34.5 pts

123Oak Island, NCNC9,337+23.8%–

124Durham, NCNC305,561+24.2%−12.8 pts

125Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+24.6%+0.3 pts

126Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+26.0%+6.4 pts

127Cornelius, NCNC35,094+26.3%−337.4 pts

128Cramerton, NCNC5,713+27.2%+2.6 pts

129Cary, NCNC183,582+29.2%−86.4 pts

130Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+29.3%−37.4 pts

131Woodfin, NCNC8,229+29.6%+12.0 pts

132Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+29.6%+4.9 pts

133Huntersville, NCNC68,535+31.2%−696.9 pts

134Dallas, NCNC6,392+32.1%+19.1 pts

135Concord, NCNC114,598+33.1%−71.6 pts

136Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+34.0%−56.2 pts

137Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+34.1%+8.2 pts

138Moyock, NCNC5,684+37.1%–

139Davidson, NCNC16,662+38.0%−38.4 pts

140Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+39.2%+8.3 pts

141Weddington, NCNC14,517+39.3%−36.7 pts

142Westport, NCNC5,915+41.7%−17.8 pts

143Pineville, NCNC11,851+41.8%+22.9 pts

144Lillington, NCNC5,040+48.2%+5.9 pts

145Belmont, NCNC16,415+49.0%+45.8 pts

146Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+50.5%–

147Midland, NCNC5,151+52.4%–

148Mooresville, NCNC55,842+53.4%−48.6 pts

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

150Locust, NCNC6,120+54.8%+29.5 pts

151Zebulon, NCNC11,933+55.7%+28.2 pts

152Mebane, NCNC21,952+56.2%+2.5 pts

153Apex, NCNC80,419+56.8%−250.0 pts

154Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+58.1%−60.1 pts

155Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+58.7%+30.9 pts

156Morrisville, NCNC32,466+59.5%−350.1 pts

157Clayton, NCNC32,633+63.2%+16.6 pts

158Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+64.6%−111.9 pts

159Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+67.2%−831.9 pts

160Wendell, NCNC19,687+67.5%+16.1 pts

161Leland, NCNC35,731+69.4%+60.8 pts

162Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+70.3%+2.2 pts

163Knightdale, NCNC23,144+70.5%−145.8 pts

164Hampstead, NCNC9,292+71.8%–

165Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+90.4%+17.3 pts

166St. James, NCNC7,318+106.3%–

167Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+108.3%+5.4 pts

168Surf City, NCNC5,142+108.7%+61.7 pts

169Rolesville, NCNC12,839+150.3%+93.1 pts

170Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+228.9%+214.0 pts

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

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UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS