RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 161 SHOWN OF 161

Most densely populated, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 161 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most sparsely populated, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Carrboro, NCNC20,9622,592+0%

02Silver Lake, NCNC6,5632,347+0%

03Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5652,249+0%

04Boone, NCNC19,9292,111+0%

05Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8701,917+0%

06Henderson, NCNC15,0131,866+0%

07Raleigh, NCNC506,3061,847+0%

08Charlotte, NCNC964,7841,740+0%

09Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,711+0%

10Kings Grant, NCNC9,0031,704+0%

11Greensboro, NCNC308,6671,673+0%

12Greenville, NCNC96,4431,615+0%

13Durham, NCNC305,5611,602+0%

14Cary, NCNC183,5821,572+0%

15Asheville, NCNC93,5231,515+0%

16High Point, NCNC120,5711,497+0%

17Wilmington, NCNC126,8091,475+0%

18Burlington, NCNC61,4961,470+0%

19Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,468+0%

20Wilson, NCNC49,5721,415+0%

21Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,391+0%

22Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,367+0%

23Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671,366+0%

24Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,366+0%

25Havelock, NCNC17,4301,313+0%

26Oxford, NCNC8,9851,303+0%

27Dunn, NCNC8,8141,299+0%

28Kinston, NCNC19,7051,296+0%

29Williamston, NCNC5,0861,295+0%

30Matthews, NCNC32,7691,293+0%

31Hope Mills, NCNC18,3241,272+0%

32Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,265+0%

33Laurinburg, NCNC14,5821,265+0%

34Brevard, NCNC8,0981,264+0%

35Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,251+0%

36Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,249+0%

37Ayden, NCNC5,2631,212+0%

38Ogden, NCNC8,2491,211+0%

39Graham, NCNC20,1311,202+0%

40Long View, NCNC5,3871,173+0%

41Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,173+0%

42Thomasville, NCNC27,7331,173+0%

43Washington, NCNC9,9101,170+0%

44Hickory, NCNC45,9751,167+0%

45Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,154+0%

46Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,153+0%

47Siler City, NCNC8,1551,152+0%

48Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,145+0%

49Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,143+0%

50Asheboro, NCNC27,9901,137+0%

51Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,130+0%

52Black Mountain, NCNC8,4911,119+0%

53Eden, NCNC15,5001,119+0%

54Clinton, NCNC8,4661,118+0%

55Dallas, NCNC6,3921,107+0%

56Davidson, NCNC16,6621,100+0%

57Selma, NCNC7,4061,094+0%

58Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,068+0%

59Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6371,062+0%

60Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7311,052+0%

61Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,038+0%

62Lexington, NCNC20,2381,038+0%

63St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571,037+0%

64Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,033+0%

65Archdale, NCNC12,2541,020+0%

66Gibsonville, NCNC9,8761,001+0%

67Tarboro, NCNC10,979988+0%

68East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323986+0%

69Reidsville, NCNC14,692978+0%

70Winterville, NCNC10,973971+0%

71King, NCNC7,977966+0%

72Hillsborough, NCNC9,778949+0%

73Cornelius, NCNC35,094944+0%

74Cullowhee, NCNC7,973940+0%

75Garner, NCNC41,562927+0%

76Cherryville, NCNC6,523924+0%

77Nashville, NCNC5,911918+0%

78Kernersville, NCNC29,128912+0%

79Newton, NCNC13,822910+0%

80Bessemer City, NCNC5,834907+0%

81Smithfield, NCNC13,114906+0%

82Morganton, NCNC17,849900+0%

83Half Moon, NCNC7,378895+0%

84Forest City, NCNC7,410881+0%

85Concord, NCNC114,598874+0%

86Shelby, NCNC23,309871+0%

87Albemarle, NCNC17,769871+0%

88Piney Green, NCNC14,078855+0%

89Mount Holly, NCNC19,033854+0%

90Murraysville, NCNC16,339845+0%

91Statesville, NCNC32,181845+0%

92Monroe, NCNC42,644837+0%

93Marion, NCNC7,440828+0%

94Fayetteville, NCNC209,120816+0%

95New Bern, NCNC34,724812+0%

96Lenoir, NCNC18,372806+0%

97Apex, NCNC80,419786+0%

98Angier, NCNC9,410771+0%

99Sawmills, NCNC5,105745+0%

100Sanford, NCNC34,138735+0%

101Mount Airy, NCNC10,682724+0%

102Belmont, NCNC16,415714+0%

103Mooresville, NCNC55,842691+0%

104Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117690+0%

105Zebulon, NCNC11,933665+0%

106Fletcher, NCNC8,373661+0%

107Swannanoa, NCNC6,901648+0%

108Knightdale, NCNC23,144644+0%

109Wake Forest, NCNC58,147641+0%

110Cramerton, NCNC5,713641+0%

111Southern Pines, NCNC17,357618+0%

112Mebane, NCNC21,952611+0%

113Lewisville, NCNC14,421608+0%

114Mint Hill, NCNC29,476607+0%

115Huntersville, NCNC68,535599+0%

116Walkertown, NCNC6,120598+0%

117Pinehurst, NCNC18,670581+0%

118Conover, NCNC8,938578+0%

119Morrisville, NCNC32,466568+0%

120Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505551+0%

121Westport, NCNC5,915546+0%

122Wadesboro, NCNC5,035539+0%

123Mocksville, NCNC6,282529+0%

124Indian Trail, NCNC44,303522+0%

125Pineville, NCNC11,851519+0%

126Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540516+0%

127Wendell, NCNC19,687486+0%

128Holly Springs, NCNC50,288485+0%

129Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494470+0%

130Butner, NCNC8,112420+0%

131Clayton, NCNC32,633417+0%

132Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536414+0%

133Creedmoor, NCNC5,046410+0%

134Lillington, NCNC5,040407+0%

135Pittsboro, NCNC5,054406+0%

136Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287404+0%

137Trinity, NCNC7,274396+0%

138Weddington, NCNC14,517382+0%

139Stallings, NCNC17,760381+0%

140Harrisburg, NCNC20,742358+0%

141Woodfin, NCNC8,229344+0%

142Spring Lake, NCNC11,252343+0%

143Oak Island, NCNC9,337341+0%

144Aberdeen, NCNC10,066321+0%

145Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165313+0%

146Locust, NCNC6,120294+0%

147Summerfield, NCNC11,327266+0%

148Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566262+0%

149Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896238+0%

150Waxhaw, NCNC23,140216+0%

151Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908197+0%

152Surf City, NCNC5,142181+0%

153Marvin, NCNC7,040173+0%

154Stokesdale, NCNC6,133172+0%

155Unionville, NCNC7,322164+0%

156Etowah, NCNC7,968157+0%

157Shallotte, NCNC5,335149+0%

158Rolesville, NCNC12,839149+0%

159Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875123+0%

160St. James, NCNC7,31888+0%

161Leland, NCNC35,73187+0%

SHOWING 1–161 OF 161

Download CSV (full list, 161 rows)

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