RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most densely populated, North Carolina cities · 1990

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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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Boone, NCNC19,9292,023−4%

02Henderson, NCNC15,0131,828−2%

03Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5651,790−20%

04Carrboro, NCNC20,9621,784−31%

05Silver Lake, NCNC6,5631,651−30%

06Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,586−7%

07Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8701,481−23%

08Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,424+4%

09Raleigh, NCNC506,3061,391−25%

10Kinston, NCNC19,7051,384+7%

11Greensboro, NCNC308,6671,371−18%

12Asheville, NCNC93,5231,356−11%

13Burlington, NCNC61,4961,289−12%

14Charlotte, NCNC964,7841,274−27%

15Ayden, NCNC5,2631,243+3%

16Oxford, NCNC8,9851,236−5%

17Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,230−3%

18Williamston, NCNC5,0861,220−6%

19Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,220−17%

20High Point, NCNC120,5711,210−19%

21Greenville, NCNC96,4431,201−26%

22Havelock, NCNC17,4301,186−10%

23Dunn, NCNC8,8141,178−9%

24Wilson, NCNC49,5721,177−17%

25Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,176+3%

26Durham, NCNC305,5611,170−27%

27Washington, NCNC9,9101,108−5%

28Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,100−12%

29Wilmington, NCNC126,8091,080−27%

30Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,074−23%

31Eden, NCNC15,5001,072−4%

32Clinton, NCNC8,4661,066−5%

33Cullowhee, NCNC7,9731,058+13%

34Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,031−17%

35Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,030−10%

36Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,006−13%

37Brevard, NCNC8,0981,003−21%

38Roxboro, NCNC8,380989−16%

39Dallas, NCNC6,392980−11%

40Tarboro, NCNC10,979979−1%

41Graham, NCNC20,131977−19%

42St. Stephens, NCNC9,457960−7%

43Hendersonville, NCNC15,867955−30%

44Thomasville, NCNC27,733943−20%

45Laurinburg, NCNC14,582927−27%

46Hope Mills, NCNC18,324926−27%

47Hickory, NCNC45,975889−24%

48Forest City, NCNC7,410872−1%

49Lexington, NCNC20,238863−17%

50Kannapolis, NCNC61,708859−20%

51Asheboro, NCNC27,990858−25%

52Selma, NCNC7,406851−22%

53Half Moon, NCNC7,378850−5%

54Bessemer City, NCNC5,834833−8%

55Albemarle, NCNC17,769830−5%

56Reidsville, NCNC14,692823−16%

57Cherryville, NCNC6,523819−11%

58Morehead City, NCNC10,434816−21%

59Black Mountain, NCNC8,491807−28%

60Long View, NCNC5,387800−32%

61Marion, NCNC7,440798−4%

62Matthews, NCNC32,769798−38%

63Siler City, NCNC8,155795−31%

64Morganton, NCNC17,849785−13%

65Garner, NCNC41,562781−16%

66Archdale, NCNC12,254779−24%

67Lincolnton, NCNC12,465777−31%

68East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323772−22%

69Gibsonville, NCNC9,876765−24%

70Waynesville, NCNC11,006763−26%

71Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731756−28%

72Ogden, NCNC8,249751−38%

73Hillsborough, NCNC9,778743−22%

74Nashville, NCNC5,911735−20%

75Cary, NCNC183,582729−54%

76Belmont, NCNC16,415692−3%

77Mount Holly, NCNC19,033684−20%

78Lenoir, NCNC18,372681−15%

79Newton, NCNC13,822674−26%

80Piney Green, NCNC14,078660−23%

81King, NCNC7,977659−32%

82Shelby, NCNC23,309656−25%

83Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637637−40%

84Statesville, NCNC32,181636−25%

85Davidson, NCNC16,662624−43%

86Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117623−10%

87Jacksonville, NCNC72,732615−55%

88Mount Airy, NCNC10,682611−16%

89New Bern, NCNC34,724610−25%

90Sawmills, NCNC5,105604−19%

91Smithfield, NCNC13,114594−34%

92Kernersville, NCNC29,128577−37%

93Swannanoa, NCNC6,901569−12%

94Winterville, NCNC10,973568−42%

95Wadesboro, NCNC5,035553+3%

96Zebulon, NCNC11,933521−22%

97Southern Pines, NCNC17,357517−16%

98Monroe, NCNC42,644515−39%

99Cramerton, NCNC5,713514−20%

100Fayetteville, NCNC209,120511−37%

101Angier, NCNC9,410504−35%

102Clemmons, NCNC22,808502−56%

103Conover, NCNC8,938479−17%

104Mint Hill, NCNC29,476470−22%

105Sanford, NCNC34,138458−38%

106Fletcher, NCNC8,373440−33%

107Pineville, NCNC11,851437−16%

108Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287432+7%

109Mocksville, NCNC6,282430−19%

110Concord, NCNC114,598427−51%

111Mebane, NCNC21,952398−35%

112Westport, NCNC5,915343−37%

113Mooresville, NCNC55,842342−51%

114Butner, NCNC8,112339−19%

115Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505328−41%

116Trinity, NCNC7,274323−18%

117Wendell, NCNC19,687321−34%

118Spring Lake, NCNC11,252319−7%

119Pinehurst, NCNC18,670305−47%

120Wake Forest, NCNC58,147294−54%

121Woodfin, NCNC8,229293−15%

122Lillington, NCNC5,040286−30%

123Clayton, NCNC32,633284−32%

124Creedmoor, NCNC5,046280−32%

125Stallings, NCNC17,760264−31%

126Pittsboro, NCNC5,054262−35%

127Aberdeen, NCNC10,066255−21%

128Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536239−42%

129Locust, NCNC6,120234−20%

130Lewisville, NCNC14,421221−64%

131Weddington, NCNC14,517217−43%

132Cornelius, NCNC35,094204−78%

133Knightdale, NCNC23,144204−68%

134Apex, NCNC80,419193−75%

135Walkertown, NCNC6,120179−70%

136Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908171−13%

137Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165146−53%

138Harrisburg, NCNC20,742130−64%

139Surf City, NCNC5,142123−32%

140Etowah, NCNC7,968113−28%

141Morrisville, NCNC32,466111−80%

142Stokesdale, NCNC6,133111−35%

143Waxhaw, NCNC23,140107−51%

144Shallotte, NCNC5,335106−29%

145Rolesville, NCNC12,83994−36%

146Indian Trail, NCNC44,30385−84%

147Summerfield, NCNC11,32782−69%

148Leland, NCNC35,73180−8%

149Huntersville, NCNC68,53572−88%

150Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87569−44%

151Holly Springs, NCNC50,28849−90%

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

Download CSV (full list, 151 rows)

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