RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Largest by population, North Carolina cities · 1990

The most populous North Carolina cities as of the 1990 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 –

01Charlotte, NCNC396,003–

02Raleigh, NCNC207,951–

03Greensboro, NCNC183,521–

04Winston-Salem, NCNC143,485–

05Durham, NCNC136,594–

06Fayetteville, NCNC75,695–

07High Point, NCNC69,394–

08Asheville, NCNC61,654–

09Wilmington, NCNC55,530–

10Gastonia, NCNC54,732–

11Rocky Mount, NCNC49,165–

12Greenville, NCNC44,972–

13Cary, NCNC43,858–

14Goldsboro, NCNC40,709–

15Burlington, NCNC39,368–

16Chapel Hill, NCNC38,762–

17Wilson, NCNC36,930–

18Jacksonville, NCNC30,013–

19Kannapolis, NCNC29,696–

20Hickory, NCNC28,337–

21Concord, NCNC27,347–

22Kinston, NCNC25,295–

23Salisbury, NCNC23,087–

24Havelock, NCNC20,268–

25Lumberton, NCNC18,707–

26Statesville, NCNC17,567–

27New Bern, NCNC17,363–

28Lexington, NCNC16,581–

29Asheboro, NCNC16,362–

30Monroe, NCNC16,127–

31Thomasville, NCNC15,915–

32Henderson, NCNC15,761–

33Roanoke Rapids, NCNC15,722–

34Eden, NCNC15,238–

35Morganton, NCNC15,085–

36Garner, NCNC14,967–

37Albemarle, NCNC14,939–

38Shelby, NCNC14,669–

39Sanford, NCNC14,475–

40Elizabeth City, NCNC14,279–

41Lenoir, NCNC14,192–

42Matthews, NCNC13,651–

43Boone, NCNC12,915–

44Reidsville, NCNC12,183–

45Laurinburg, NCNC11,636–

46Mint Hill, NCNC11,567–

47Carrboro, NCNC11,553–

48Tarboro, NCNC11,037–

49Kernersville, NCNC10,836–

50Graham, NCNC10,426–

51Rockingham, NCNC9,399–

52Mooresville, NCNC9,317–

53Newton, NCNC9,304–

54Southern Pines, NCNC9,129–

55Washington, NCNC9,075–

56Piney Green, NCNC8,999–

57Kings Mountain, NCNC8,742–

58St. Stephens, NCNC8,734–

59Belmont, NCNC8,434–

60Dunn, NCNC8,336–

61Clinton, NCNC8,204–

62Hope Mills, NCNC8,184–

63Oxford, NCNC7,913–

64Mount Holly, NCNC7,710–

65Smithfield, NCNC7,540–

66Spring Lake, NCNC7,524–

67Forest City, NCNC7,475–

68Roxboro, NCNC7,332–

69Hendersonville, NCNC7,284–

70Mount Airy, NCNC7,156–

71Archdale, NCNC6,882–

72Lincolnton, NCNC6,847–

73Waynesville, NCNC6,819–

74Half Moon, NCNC6,306–

75Hamlet, NCNC6,196–

76Morehead City, NCNC6,046–

77Clemmons, NCNC6,020–

78Wake Forest, NCNC5,769–

79Williamston, NCNC5,503–

80Conover, NCNC5,465–

81Trinity, NCNC5,461–

82Black Mountain, NCNC5,418–

83Brevard, NCNC5,388–

84Pinehurst, NCNC5,103–

85Apex, NCNC4,968–

86Siler City, NCNC4,808–

87Wrightsboro, NCNC4,807–

88Marion, NCNC4,765–

89Cherryville, NCNC4,756–

90Clayton, NCNC4,756–

91Ayden, NCNC4,740–

92Mebane, NCNC4,740–

93Bessemer City, NCNC4,698–

94Butner, NCNC4,679–

95Selma, NCNC4,600–

96Fuquay-Varina, NCNC4,562–

97Myrtle Grove, NCNC4,275–

98Hillsborough, NCNC4,263–

99Kill Devil Hills, NCNC4,238–

100Silver Lake, NCNC4,071–

101King, NCNC4,059–

102Davidson, NCNC4,046–

103Cullowhee, NCNC4,029–

104Sawmills, NCNC3,994–

105Weddington, NCNC3,803–

106Wadesboro, NCNC3,645–

107Carolina Beach, NCNC3,631–

108Swannanoa, NCNC3,627–

109Nashville, NCNC3,449–

110Ogden, NCNC3,399–

111Mocksville, NCNC3,399–

112Gibsonville, NCNC3,342–

113East Flat Rock, NCNC3,250–

114Long View, NCNC3,220–

115Lewisville, NCNC3,206–

116Zebulon, NCNC3,173–

117Huntersville, NCNC3,014–

118Dallas, NCNC3,012–

119Pineville, NCNC2,901–

120Wendell, NCNC2,805–

121Winterville, NCNC2,800–

122Fletcher, NCNC2,787–

123Aberdeen, NCNC2,700–

124Woodfin, NCNC2,689–

125Cornelius, NCNC2,581–

126Cramerton, NCNC2,389–

127Angier, NCNC2,235–

128Stallings, NCNC2,213–

129Pleasant Garden, NCNC2,193–

130Summerfield, NCNC2,167–

131Stokesdale, NCNC2,112–

132Lillington, NCNC2,048–

133Etowah, NCNC2,003–

134Indian Trail, NCNC1,942–

135Locust, NCNC1,927–

136Knightdale, NCNC1,884–

137Leland, NCNC1,785–

138Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC1,672–

139Harrisburg, NCNC1,625–

140Creedmoor, NCNC1,525–

141Pittsboro, NCNC1,436–

142Waxhaw, NCNC1,294–

143Westport, NCNC1,258–

144Whispering Pines, NCNC1,243–

145Walkertown, NCNC1,200–

146Morrisville, NCNC1,022–

147Shallotte, NCNC976–

148Surf City, NCNC948–

149Holly Springs, NCNC920–

150Holly Ridge, NCNC723–

151Rolesville, NCNC577–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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