RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Largest by population, North Carolina cities · 2020

The most populous North Carolina cities as of the 2020 population estimates. This list covers the 174 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, NCNC874,579+62%

02Raleigh, NCNC467,665+69%

03Greensboro, NCNC299,035+34%

04Durham, NCNC283,506+52%

05Winston-Salem, NCNC249,545+34%

06Fayetteville, NCNC208,501+72%

07Cary, NCNC174,721+85%

08Wilmington, NCNC115,451+52%

09High Point, NCNC114,059+33%

10Concord, NCNC105,240+88%

11Asheville, NCNC94,589+37%

12Greenville, NCNC87,521+45%

13Gastonia, NCNC80,411+21%

14Jacksonville, NCNC72,723+9%

15Chapel Hill, NCNC61,960+27%

16Huntersville, NCNC61,376+146%

17Apex, NCNC58,780+191%

18Burlington, NCNC57,303+28%

19Rocky Mount, NCNC54,341−3%

20Kannapolis, NCNC53,114+44%

21Mooresville, NCNC50,193+167%

22Wilson, NCNC47,851+8%

23Wake Forest, NCNC47,601+278%

24Hickory, NCNC43,490+17%

25Holly Springs, NCNC41,239+349%

26Indian Trail, NCNC39,997+236%

27Salisbury, NCNC35,540+34%

28Monroe, NCNC34,562+32%

29Fuquay-Varina, NCNC34,152+332%

30Goldsboro, NCNC33,657−14%

31Cornelius, NCNC31,412+162%

32New Bern, NCNC31,291+35%

33Garner, NCNC31,159+75%

34Sanford, NCNC30,261+30%

35Morrisville, NCNC29,630+469%

36Matthews, NCNC29,435+33%

37Statesville, NCNC28,419+22%

38Thomasville, NCNC27,183+37%

39Asheboro, NCNC27,156+25%

40Mint Hill, NCNC26,450+77%

41Kernersville, NCNC26,449+54%

42Clayton, NCNC26,307+277%

43Leland, NCNC22,908+1082%

44Shelby, NCNC21,918+13%

45Carrboro, NCNC21,295+27%

46Clemmons, NCNC21,163+53%

47Waxhaw, NCNC20,534+682%

48Kinston, NCNC19,900−16%

49Lexington, NCNC19,632−2%

50Knightdale, NCNC19,435+226%

51Boone, NCNC19,092+42%

52Lumberton, NCNC19,025−9%

53Harrisburg, NCNC18,967+322%

54Elizabeth City, NCNC18,631+8%

55Lenoir, NCNC18,352+9%

56Hope Mills, NCNC17,808+58%

57Mebane, NCNC17,797+144%

58Mount Holly, NCNC17,703+84%

59Pinehurst, NCNC17,581+81%

60Morganton, NCNC17,474+1%

61Graham, NCNC17,157+34%

62Havelock, NCNC16,621−26%

63Murraysville, NCNC16,582+128%

64Albemarle, NCNC16,432+5%

65Stallings, NCNC16,112+405%

66Southern Pines, NCNC15,545+42%

67Eden, NCNC15,421−3%

68Roanoke Rapids, NCNC15,229−10%

69Hendersonville, NCNC15,137+45%

70Davidson, NCNC15,106+112%

71Henderson, NCNC15,060−6%

72Belmont, NCNC15,010+72%

73Laurinburg, NCNC14,978−6%

74Reidsville, NCNC14,583+1%

75Piney Green, NCNC14,386+23%

76Anderson Creek, NCNC13,636–

77Lewisville, NCNC13,381+52%

78Weddington, NCNC13,181+97%

79Newton, NCNC13,148+5%

80Archdale, NCNC11,907+32%

81Spring Lake, NCNC11,660+44%

82Myrtle Grove, NCNC11,476+61%

83Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC11,395+140%

84Elon, NCNC11,336–

85Smithfield, NCNC11,292−2%

86Kings Mountain, NCNC11,142+15%

87Lincolnton, NCNC11,091+11%

88Spout Springs, NCNC11,040–

89Summerfield, NCNC10,951+56%

90Tarboro, NCNC10,721−4%

91Mount Airy, NCNC10,676+26%

92Pineville, NCNC10,602+207%

93Winterville, NCNC10,462+118%

94Waynesville, NCNC10,140+10%

95Washington, NCNC9,875+3%

96Wendell, NCNC9,793+131%

97Hillsborough, NCNC9,660+77%

98Morehead City, NCNC9,556+24%

99Rolesville, NCNC9,475+945%

100Rockingham, NCNC9,243−4%

101Gibsonville, NCNC8,920+104%

102St. Stephens, NCNC8,852−6%

103Wesley Chapel, NCNC8,681+241%

104Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC8,658–

105Oxford, NCNC8,628+3%

106Aberdeen, NCNC8,516+150%

107Kings Grant, NCNC8,466+9%

108Dunn, NCNC8,446−8%

109Black Mountain, NCNC8,426+12%

110Conover, NCNC8,421+28%

111Butner, NCNC8,397+45%

112Oak Island, NCNC8,396+28%

113Clinton, NCNC8,383−3%

114Ogden, NCNC8,200+50%

115Roxboro, NCNC8,134−6%

116Fletcher, NCNC7,987+91%

117Woodfin, NCNC7,936+151%

118Brevard, NCNC7,744+14%

119Marion, NCNC7,717+56%

120Siler City, NCNC7,702+11%

121Cullowhee, NCNC7,682+115%

122Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,656+30%

123Etowah, NCNC7,642+176%

124Half Moon, NCNC7,543+14%

125Oak Ridge, NCNC7,474+87%

126Porters Neck, NCNC7,397–

127Forest City, NCNC7,377−2%

128King, NCNC7,197+21%

129Mills River, NCNC7,078–

130Hampstead, NCNC7,016–

131Trinity, NCNC7,006+5%

132Zebulon, NCNC6,903+71%

133Unionville, NCNC6,643+38%

134Carolina Beach, NCNC6,564+40%

135St. James, NCNC6,529+712%

136Silver Lake, NCNC6,500+12%

137Marvin, NCNC6,358+512%

138Selma, NCNC6,317+7%

139Cherryville, NCNC6,078+13%

140Hamlet, NCNC6,025+0%

141Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC5,943+100%

142Dallas, NCNC5,927+74%

143Stokesdale, NCNC5,924+81%

144Mocksville, NCNC5,900+41%

145East Flat Rock, NCNC5,757+39%

146Westport, NCNC5,705+184%

147Walkertown, NCNC5,692+42%

148Nashville, NCNC5,632+31%

149Wrightsboro, NCNC5,526+23%

150Bessemer City, NCNC5,428+6%

151Cramerton, NCNC5,296+78%

152Angier, NCNC5,265+54%

153Williamston, NCNC5,248−10%

154Moyock, NCNC5,154–

155Briar Chapel, NCNC5,108–

156Long View, NCNC5,088+8%

157Swannanoa, NCNC5,021+22%

158Sawmills, NCNC5,020+2%

159Wadesboro, NCNC5,008+41%

160Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,000+6%

161Whispering Pines, NCNC4,987+139%

162Ayden, NCNC4,977+8%

163Creedmoor, NCNC4,866+118%

164Archer Lodge, NCNC4,797–

165Midway, NCNC4,742–

166Lillington, NCNC4,735+62%

167Midland, NCNC4,684–

168Carolina Shores, NCNC4,588+210%

169Locust, NCNC4,537+88%

170Pittsboro, NCNC4,537+104%

171Shallotte, NCNC4,185+203%

172Holly Ridge, NCNC4,171+402%

173Surf City, NCNC3,867+178%

174Northchase, NCNC3,842–

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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