RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Largest by population, North Carolina cities · 2000

The most populous North Carolina cities as of the 2000 population estimates. This list covers the 161 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 1990

01Charlotte, NCNC540,828+37%

02Raleigh, NCNC276,093+33%

03Greensboro, NCNC223,891+22%

04Durham, NCNC187,035+37%

05Winston-Salem, NCNC185,776+29%

06Fayetteville, NCNC121,015+60%

07Cary, NCNC94,536+116%

08High Point, NCNC85,839+24%

09Wilmington, NCNC75,838+37%

10Asheville, NCNC68,889+12%

11Jacksonville, NCNC66,715+122%

12Gastonia, NCNC66,277+21%

13Greenville, NCNC60,476+34%

14Concord, NCNC55,977+105%

15Rocky Mount, NCNC55,893+14%

16Chapel Hill, NCNC48,715+26%

17Burlington, NCNC44,917+14%

18Wilson, NCNC44,405+20%

19Goldsboro, NCNC39,043−4%

20Hickory, NCNC37,222+31%

21Kannapolis, NCNC36,910+24%

22Salisbury, NCNC26,462+15%

23Monroe, NCNC26,228+63%

24Huntersville, NCNC24,960+728%

25Kinston, NCNC23,688−6%

26Statesville, NCNC23,320+33%

27Sanford, NCNC23,220+60%

28New Bern, NCNC23,128+33%

29Havelock, NCNC22,442+11%

30Matthews, NCNC22,127+62%

31Asheboro, NCNC21,672+32%

32Lumberton, NCNC20,795+11%

33Apex, NCNC20,212+307%

34Lexington, NCNC19,953+20%

35Thomasville, NCNC19,788+24%

36Shelby, NCNC19,477+33%

37Mooresville, NCNC18,823+102%

38Garner, NCNC17,757+19%

39Morganton, NCNC17,310+15%

40Elizabeth City, NCNC17,188+20%

41Kernersville, NCNC17,126+58%

42Roanoke Rapids, NCNC16,957+8%

43Lenoir, NCNC16,793+18%

44Carrboro, NCNC16,782+45%

45Henderson, NCNC16,095+2%

46Eden, NCNC15,908+4%

47Laurinburg, NCNC15,874+36%

48Albemarle, NCNC15,680+5%

49Mint Hill, NCNC14,922+29%

50Reidsville, NCNC14,485+19%

51Clemmons, NCNC13,827+130%

52Boone, NCNC13,472+4%

53Graham, NCNC12,833+23%

54Wake Forest, NCNC12,588+118%

55Newton, NCNC12,560+35%

56Cornelius, NCNC11,969+364%

57Indian Trail, NCNC11,905+513%

58Piney Green, NCNC11,658+30%

59Smithfield, NCNC11,510+53%

60Hope Mills, NCNC11,237+37%

61Tarboro, NCNC11,138+1%

62Southern Pines, NCNC10,918+20%

63Hendersonville, NCNC10,420+43%

64Lincolnton, NCNC9,965+46%

65Pinehurst, NCNC9,706+90%

66Kings Mountain, NCNC9,693+11%

67Rockingham, NCNC9,672+3%

68Mount Holly, NCNC9,618+25%

69Washington, NCNC9,583+6%

70St. Stephens, NCNC9,439+8%

71Waynesville, NCNC9,232+35%

72Dunn, NCNC9,196+10%

73Holly Springs, NCNC9,192+899%

74Archdale, NCNC9,014+31%

75Lewisville, NCNC8,826+175%

76Belmont, NCNC8,705+3%

77Roxboro, NCNC8,696+19%

78Clinton, NCNC8,600+5%

79Mount Airy, NCNC8,484+19%

80Oxford, NCNC8,338+5%

81Spring Lake, NCNC8,098+8%

82Fuquay-Varina, NCNC7,898+73%

83Kings Grant, NCNC7,738–

84Morehead City, NCNC7,691+27%

85Forest City, NCNC7,549+1%

86Black Mountain, NCNC7,511+39%

87Mebane, NCNC7,284+54%

88Murraysville, NCNC7,279–

89Davidson, NCNC7,139+76%

90Myrtle Grove, NCNC7,125+67%

91Summerfield, NCNC7,018+224%

92Clayton, NCNC6,973+47%

93Siler City, NCNC6,966+45%

94Brevard, NCNC6,789+26%

95Weddington, NCNC6,696+76%

96Trinity, NCNC6,690+23%

97Half Moon, NCNC6,645+5%

98Conover, NCNC6,604+21%

99Oak Island, NCNC6,571–

100Hamlet, NCNC6,018−3%

101Knightdale, NCNC5,958+216%

102King, NCNC5,952+47%

103Selma, NCNC5,914+29%

104Kill Devil Hills, NCNC5,897+39%

105Williamston, NCNC5,843+6%

106Butner, NCNC5,792+24%

107Silver Lake, NCNC5,788+42%

108Ogden, NCNC5,481+61%

109Hillsborough, NCNC5,446+28%

110Cherryville, NCNC5,361+13%

111Morrisville, NCNC5,208+410%

112Bessemer City, NCNC5,119+9%

113Marion, NCNC4,943+4%

114Sawmills, NCNC4,921+23%

115Unionville, NCNC4,797–

116Winterville, NCNC4,791+71%

117Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC4,744–

118Long View, NCNC4,722+47%

119Pleasant Garden, NCNC4,714+115%

120Carolina Beach, NCNC4,701+29%

121Ayden, NCNC4,622−2%

122Wrightsboro, NCNC4,496−6%

123Harrisburg, NCNC4,493+176%

124Gibsonville, NCNC4,372+31%

125Nashville, NCNC4,309+25%

126Wendell, NCNC4,247+51%

127Fletcher, NCNC4,185+50%

128Mocksville, NCNC4,178+23%

129East Flat Rock, NCNC4,151+28%

130Swannanoa, NCNC4,132+14%

131Zebulon, NCNC4,046+28%

132Walkertown, NCNC4,009+234%

133Oak Ridge, NCNC3,988–

134Cullowhee, NCNC3,579−11%

135Wadesboro, NCNC3,552−3%

136Pineville, NCNC3,449+19%

137Angier, NCNC3,419+53%

138Dallas, NCNC3,402+13%

139Aberdeen, NCNC3,400+26%

140Stokesdale, NCNC3,267+55%

141Stallings, NCNC3,189+44%

142Woodfin, NCNC3,162+18%

143Cramerton, NCNC2,976+25%

144Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC2,972+78%

145Lillington, NCNC2,915+42%

146Etowah, NCNC2,766+38%

147Waxhaw, NCNC2,625+103%

148Wesley Chapel, NCNC2,549–

149Locust, NCNC2,416+25%

150Creedmoor, NCNC2,232+46%

151Pittsboro, NCNC2,226+55%

152Whispering Pines, NCNC2,090+68%

153Westport, NCNC2,006+59%

154Leland, NCNC1,938+9%

155Carolina Shores, NCNC1,482–

156Surf City, NCNC1,393+47%

157Shallotte, NCNC1,381+41%

158Marvin, NCNC1,039–

159Rolesville, NCNC907+57%

160Holly Ridge, NCNC831+15%

161St. James, NCNC804–

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

Download CSV (full list, 161 rows)

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