RANKING · 2025 ESTIMATES · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Largest by population, North Carolina cities

The most populous North Carolina cities as of the 2025 population estimates. This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

RELATEDFastest growing Fastest shrinking Most population gained Most population lost Most densely populated Most sparsely populated

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATETOTAL POPULATIONVS 2000

01Charlotte, NCNC964,784+78%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,306+83%

03Greensboro, NCNC308,667+38%

04Durham, NCNC305,561+63%

05Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+38%

06Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+73%

07Cary, NCNC183,582+94%

08Wilmington, NCNC126,809+67%

09High Point, NCNC120,571+40%

10Concord, NCNC114,598+105%

11Greenville, NCNC96,443+59%

12Asheville, NCNC93,523+36%

13Gastonia, NCNC87,067+31%

14Apex, NCNC80,419+298%

15Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+9%

16Huntersville, NCNC68,535+175%

17Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+30%

18Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+67%

19Burlington, NCNC61,496+37%

20Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+362%

21Mooresville, NCNC55,842+197%

22Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120−1%

23Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+447%

24Wilson, NCNC49,572+12%

25Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+515%

26Hickory, NCNC45,975+24%

27Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+272%

28Monroe, NCNC42,644+63%

29Garner, NCNC41,562+134%

30Salisbury, NCNC36,879+39%

31Leland, NCNC35,731+1744%

32Cornelius, NCNC35,094+193%

33Goldsboro, NCNC35,012−10%

34New Bern, NCNC34,724+50%

35Sanford, NCNC34,138+47%

36Matthews, NCNC32,769+48%

37Clayton, NCNC32,633+368%

38Morrisville, NCNC32,466+523%

39Statesville, NCNC32,181+38%

40Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+98%

41Kernersville, NCNC29,128+70%

42Asheboro, NCNC27,990+29%

43Thomasville, NCNC27,733+40%

44Shelby, NCNC23,309+20%

45Knightdale, NCNC23,144+288%

46Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+782%

47Clemmons, NCNC22,808+65%

48Mebane, NCNC21,952+201%

49Carrboro, NCNC20,962+25%

50Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+362%

51Lexington, NCNC20,238+1%

52Graham, NCNC20,131+57%

53Boone, NCNC19,929+48%

54Kinston, NCNC19,705−17%

55Wendell, NCNC19,687+364%

56Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+14%

57Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+98%

58Lumberton, NCNC18,955−9%

59Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+92%

60Lenoir, NCNC18,372+9%

61Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+63%

62Morganton, NCNC17,849+3%

63Albemarle, NCNC17,769+13%

64Stallings, NCNC17,760+457%

65Havelock, NCNC17,430−22%

66Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+59%

67Davidson, NCNC16,662+133%

68Belmont, NCNC16,415+89%

69Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+52%

70Eden, NCNC15,500−3%

71Henderson, NCNC15,013−7%

72Reidsville, NCNC14,692+1%

73Laurinburg, NCNC14,582−8%

74Weddington, NCNC14,517+117%

75Lewisville, NCNC14,421+63%

76Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386−15%

77Newton, NCNC13,822+10%

78Smithfield, NCNC13,114+14%

79Rolesville, NCNC12,839+1316%

80Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+25%

81Archdale, NCNC12,254+36%

82Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+25%

83Zebulon, NCNC11,933+195%

84Pineville, NCNC11,851+244%

85Elon, NCNC11,366–

86Summerfield, NCNC11,327+61%

87Spring Lake, NCNC11,252+39%

88Waynesville, NCNC11,006+19%

89Tarboro, NCNC10,979−1%

90Winterville, NCNC10,973+129%

91Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+26%

92Morehead City, NCNC10,434+36%

93Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+196%

94Washington, NCNC9,910+3%

95Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+126%

96Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+80%

97Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+275%

98Angier, NCNC9,410+175%

99Oak Island, NCNC9,337+42%

100Oxford, NCNC8,985+8%

101Conover, NCNC8,938+35%

102Rockingham, NCNC8,815−9%

103Dunn, NCNC8,814−4%

104Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+13%

105Clinton, NCNC8,466−2%

106Roxboro, NCNC8,380−4%

107Fletcher, NCNC8,373+100%

108Woodfin, NCNC8,229+160%

109Siler City, NCNC8,155+17%

110Butner, NCNC8,112+40%

111Brevard, NCNC8,098+19%

112King, NCNC7,977+34%

113Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+98%

114Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+31%

115Mills River, NCNC7,504–

116Marion, NCNC7,440+51%

117Forest City, NCNC7,410−2%

118Selma, NCNC7,406+25%

119Unionville, NCNC7,322+53%

120St. James, NCNC7,318+810%

121Trinity, NCNC7,274+9%

122Marvin, NCNC7,040+578%

123Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+131%

124Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+46%

125Cherryville, NCNC6,523+22%

126Dallas, NCNC6,392+88%

127Mocksville, NCNC6,282+50%

128Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+88%

129Locust, NCNC6,120+153%

130Walkertown, NCNC6,120+53%

131Nashville, NCNC5,911+37%

132Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+611%

133Hamlet, NCNC5,870−2%

134Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+14%

135Cramerton, NCNC5,713+92%

136Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649–

137Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+274%

138Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+163%

139Long View, NCNC5,387+14%

140Shallotte, NCNC5,335+286%

141Ayden, NCNC5,263+14%

142Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+10%

143Midland, NCNC5,151–

144Surf City, NCNC5,142+269%

145Sawmills, NCNC5,105+4%

146Midway, NCNC5,104–

147Williamston, NCNC5,086−13%

148Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+127%

149Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+126%

150Lillington, NCNC5,040+73%

151Wadesboro, NCNC5,035+42%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES