RANKING · 2025 ACS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most densely populated, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Morrisville, NCNC32,4663,541+523%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,3063,388+83%

03Carrboro, NCNC20,9623,237+25%

04Apex, NCNC80,4193,128+298%

05Boone, NCNC19,9293,122+48%

06Charlotte, NCNC964,7843,105+78%

07Cary, NCNC183,5823,053+94%

08Wake Forest, NCNC58,1472,961+362%

09Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5652,935+30%

10Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8702,802+46%

11Cornelius, NCNC35,0942,769+193%

12Elon, NCNC11,3662,723–

13Holly Springs, NCNC50,2882,653+447%

14Durham, NCNC305,5612,617+63%

15Greenville, NCNC96,4432,576+59%

16Davidson, NCNC16,6622,568+133%

17Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5362,543+515%

18Knightdale, NCNC23,1442,500+288%

19Wilmington, NCNC126,8092,466+67%

20Greensboro, NCNC308,6672,306+38%

21Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762,262+126%

22Wendell, NCNC19,6872,251+364%

23Winterville, NCNC10,9732,225+129%

24Garner, NCNC41,5622,170+134%

25Angier, NCNC9,4102,122+175%

26Stallings, NCNC17,7602,120+457%

27High Point, NCNC120,5712,103+40%

28Rolesville, NCNC12,8392,102+1316%

29Dallas, NCNC6,3922,080+88%

30Hendersonville, NCNC15,8672,080+52%

31Hope Mills, NCNC18,3242,074+63%

32Asheville, NCNC93,5232,057+36%

33Mooresville, NCNC55,8422,050+197%

34Burlington, NCNC61,4962,013+37%

35Zebulon, NCNC11,9331,961+195%

36Clayton, NCNC32,6331,949+368%

37Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,943+272%

38Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5401,929+274%

39Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,926+38%

40Matthews, NCNC32,7691,915+48%

41Waxhaw, NCNC23,1401,905+782%

42Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,903+65%

43Graham, NCNC20,1311,886+57%

44Mebane, NCNC21,9521,843+201%

45Concord, NCNC114,5981,790+105%

46Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,785+67%

47Pineville, NCNC11,8511,785+244%

48Henderson, NCNC15,0131,741−7%

49Hillsborough, NCNC9,7781,704+80%

50Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331,689+98%

51Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,676+14%

52Harrisburg, NCNC20,7421,653+362%

53Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,646+175%

54Thomasville, NCNC27,7331,644+40%

55Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,641+31%

56Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,607+39%

57Leland, NCNC35,7311,600+1744%

58Wilson, NCNC49,5721,579+12%

59Kernersville, NCNC29,1281,551+70%

60Brevard, NCNC8,0981,507+19%

61Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,490+9%

62Asheboro, NCNC27,9901,469+29%

63Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051,452+163%

64Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,451−15%

65Hickory, NCNC45,9751,442+24%

66Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,414+25%

67Fayetteville, NCNC209,1201,410+73%

68Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,409+36%

69Oxford, NCNC8,9851,404+8%

70Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9081,398+611%

71Archdale, NCNC12,2541,387+36%

72Ayden, NCNC5,2631,380+14%

73Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7311,379+31%

74Selma, NCNC7,4061,369+25%

75Monroe, NCNC42,6441,361+63%

76Siler City, NCNC8,1551,348+17%

77Belmont, NCNC16,4151,346+89%

78Long View, NCNC5,3871,339+14%

79Fletcher, NCNC8,3731,322+100%

80King, NCNC7,9771,295+34%

81Black Mountain, NCNC8,4911,265+13%

82Nashville, NCNC5,9111,259+37%

83Marion, NCNC7,4401,246+51%

84Dunn, NCNC8,8141,245−4%

85Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,234−1%

86Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,232+19%

87Cramerton, NCNC5,7131,230+92%

88Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,225−10%

89New Bern, NCNC34,7241,220+50%

90Washington, NCNC9,9101,210+3%

91Mint Hill, NCNC29,4761,199+98%

92Marvin, NCNC7,0401,174+578%

93Statesville, NCNC32,1811,166+38%

94Laurinburg, NCNC14,5821,162−8%

95Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,153−9%

96Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,131−4%

97Williamston, NCNC5,0861,127−13%

98Cherryville, NCNC6,5231,124+22%

99Pinehurst, NCNC18,6701,117+92%

100Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,114−2%

101Clinton, NCNC8,4661,100−2%

102Eden, NCNC15,5001,090−3%

103Sanford, NCNC34,1381,081+47%

104Kinston, NCNC19,7051,078−17%

105Lexington, NCNC20,2381,053+1%

106Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,044−9%

107Shelby, NCNC23,3091,043+20%

108Bessemer City, NCNC5,8341,034+14%

109Smithfield, NCNC13,1141,032+14%

110Havelock, NCNC17,4301,020−22%

111Newton, NCNC13,8221,002+10%

112Lewisville, NCNC14,421994+63%

113Reidsville, NCNC14,692992+1%

114Albemarle, NCNC17,769987+13%

115Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566984+275%

116Southern Pines, NCNC17,357982+59%

117Tarboro, NCNC10,979974−1%

118Aberdeen, NCNC10,066952+196%

119Morganton, NCNC17,849928+3%

120Creedmoor, NCNC5,046927+126%

121Pittsboro, NCNC5,054921+127%

122Walkertown, NCNC6,120913+53%

123Mount Airy, NCNC10,682912+26%

124Woodfin, NCNC8,229895+160%

125Lenoir, NCNC18,372882+9%

126Forest City, NCNC7,410865−2%

127Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117863+25%

128Weddington, NCNC14,517828+117%

129St. James, NCNC7,318803+810%

130Mocksville, NCNC6,282795+50%

131Conover, NCNC8,938783+35%

132Sawmills, NCNC5,105773+4%

133Wadesboro, NCNC5,035763+42%

134Locust, NCNC6,120744+153%

135Lillington, NCNC5,040703+73%

136Surf City, NCNC5,142669+269%

137Midway, NCNC5,104654–

138Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649623–

139Butner, NCNC8,112588+40%

140Shallotte, NCNC5,335577+286%

141Oak Island, NCNC9,337484+42%

142Spring Lake, NCNC11,252476+39%

143Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896471+98%

144Trinity, NCNC7,274431+9%

145Summerfield, NCNC11,327429+61%

146Midland, NCNC5,151386–

147Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165343+10%

148Mills River, NCNC7,504335–

149Stokesdale, NCNC6,133322+88%

150Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875285+131%

151Unionville, NCNC7,322250+53%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES