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. The median across all 151 is 14,386. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Angier, NC, up 54 places to #98.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

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%

11▲1Greenville, NCNC96,443+59%

12▼1Asheville, NCNC93,523+36%

13Gastonia, NCNC87,067+31%

14▲3Apex, NCNC80,419+298%

15▼1Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+9%

16Huntersville, NCNC68,535+175%

17▼2Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+30%

18▲2Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+67%

19▼1Burlington, NCNC61,496+37%

20▲3Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+362%

21Mooresville, NCNC55,842+197%

22▼3Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120−1%

23▲2Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+447%

24▼2Wilson, NCNC49,572+12%

25▲4Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+515%

26▼2Hickory, NCNC45,975+24%

27▼1Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+272%

28Monroe, NCNC42,644+63%

29▲4Garner, NCNC41,562+134%

30▼3Salisbury, NCNC36,879+39%

31▲12Leland, NCNC35,731+1744%

32▼1Cornelius, NCNC35,094+193%

33▼3Goldsboro, NCNC35,012−10%

34▼2New Bern, NCNC34,724+50%

35▼1Sanford, NCNC34,138+47%

36Matthews, NCNC32,769+48%

37▲5Clayton, NCNC32,633+368%

38▼3Morrisville, NCNC32,466+523%

39▼2Statesville, NCNC32,181+38%

40Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+98%

41Kernersville, NCNC29,128+70%

42▼3Asheboro, NCNC27,990+29%

43▼5Thomasville, NCNC27,733+40%

44Shelby, NCNC23,309+20%

45▲5Knightdale, NCNC23,144+288%

46▲1Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+782%

47▼1Clemmons, NCNC22,808+65%

48▲9Mebane, NCNC21,952+201%

49▼4Carrboro, NCNC20,962+25%

50▲3Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+362%

51▼2Lexington, NCNC20,238+1%

52▲9Graham, NCNC20,131+57%

53▼2Boone, NCNC19,929+48%

54▼6Kinston, NCNC19,705−17%

55▲41Wendell, NCNC19,687+364%

56▼2Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+14%

57▲1Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+98%

58▼6Lumberton, NCNC18,955−9%

59Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+92%

60▼5Lenoir, NCNC18,372+9%

61▼5Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+63%

62▼2Morganton, NCNC17,849+3%

63▲1Albemarle, NCNC17,769+13%

64▲1Stallings, NCNC17,760+457%

65▼3Havelock, NCNC17,430−22%

66Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+59%

67▲3Davidson, NCNC16,662+133%

68▲4Belmont, NCNC16,415+89%

69Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+52%

70▼3Eden, NCNC15,500−3%

71Henderson, NCNC15,013−7%

72▲2Reidsville, NCNC14,692+1%

73Laurinburg, NCNC14,582−8%

74▲4Weddington, NCNC14,517+117%

75▲2Lewisville, NCNC14,421+63%

76▼8Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386−15%

77▲2Newton, NCNC13,822+10%

78▲7Smithfield, NCNC13,114+14%

79▲20Rolesville, NCNC12,839+1316%

80▲7Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+25%

81▼1Archdale, NCNC12,254+36%

82▲4Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+25%

83▲49Zebulon, NCNC11,933+195%

84▲8Pineville, NCNC11,851+244%

85▼1Elon, NCNC11,366–

86▲3Summerfield, NCNC11,327+61%

87▼6Spring Lake, NCNC11,252+39%

88▲6Waynesville, NCNC11,006+19%

89▲1Tarboro, NCNC10,979−1%

90▲3Winterville, NCNC10,973+129%

91Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+26%

92▲6Morehead City, NCNC10,434+36%

93▲13Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+196%

94▲1Washington, NCNC9,910+3%

95▲6Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+126%

96▲1Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+80%

97▲6Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+275%

98▲54Angier, NCNC9,410+175%

99▲13Oak Island, NCNC9,337+42%

100▲5Oxford, NCNC8,985+8%

101▲9Conover, NCNC8,938+35%

102▼2Rockingham, NCNC8,815−9%

103▲5Dunn, NCNC8,814−4%

104▲5Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+13%

105▲8Clinton, NCNC8,466−2%

106▲9Roxboro, NCNC8,380−4%

107▲9Fletcher, NCNC8,373+100%

108▲9Woodfin, NCNC8,229+160%

109▲11Siler City, NCNC8,155+17%

110▲1Butner, NCNC8,112+40%

111▲7Brevard, NCNC8,098+19%

112▲16King, NCNC7,977+34%

113▲12Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+98%

114▲8Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+31%

115▲14Mills River, NCNC7,504–

116▲3Marion, NCNC7,440+51%

117▲10Forest City, NCNC7,410−2%

118▲20Selma, NCNC7,406+25%

119▲14Unionville, NCNC7,322+53%

120▲15St. James, NCNC7,318+810%

121▲10Trinity, NCNC7,274+9%

122▲15Marvin, NCNC7,040+578%

123▲18Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+131%

124▲10Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+46%

125▲14Cherryville, NCNC6,523+22%

126▲16Dallas, NCNC6,392+88%

127▲17Mocksville, NCNC6,282+50%

128▲15Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+88%

129▲40Locust, NCNC6,120+153%

130▲17Walkertown, NCNC6,120+53%

131▲17Nashville, NCNC5,911+37%

132▲40Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+611%

133▲7Hamlet, NCNC5,870−2%

134▲16Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+14%

135▲16Cramerton, NCNC5,713+92%

136▲28Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649–

137▲31Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+274%

138▲23Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+163%

139▲17Long View, NCNC5,387+14%

140▲31Shallotte, NCNC5,335+286%

141▲21Ayden, NCNC5,263+14%

142▲18Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+10%

143▲24Midland, NCNC5,151–

144▲29Surf City, NCNC5,142+269%

145▲13Sawmills, NCNC5,105+4%

146▲19Midway, NCNC5,104–

147▲6Williamston, NCNC5,086−13%

148▲22Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+127%

149▲14Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+126%

150▲16Lillington, NCNC5,040+73%

151▲8Wadesboro, NCNC5,035+42%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU POPULATION ESTIMATES