RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Most densely populated, North Carolina cities · 2010

North Carolina cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 170 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

01Carrboro, NCNC20,9623,024+17%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,3062,703+46%

03Boone, NCNC19,9292,682+27%

04Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5652,643+17%

05Charlotte, NCNC964,7842,354+35%

06Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8702,327+21%

07Silver Lake, NCNC6,5632,270−3%

08Greenville, NCNC96,4432,258+40%

09Elon, NCNC11,3662,257–

10Cary, NCNC183,5822,249+43%

11Northchase, NCNC5,8962,178–

12Wilmington, NCNC126,8092,071+40%

13Morrisville, NCNC32,4662,026+257%

14Greensboro, NCNC308,6672,015+20%

15Cornelius, NCNC35,0941,962+108%

16Durham, NCNC305,5611,956+22%

17Winterville, NCNC10,9731,879+93%

18Asheville, NCNC93,5231,834+21%

19High Point, NCNC120,5711,821+22%

20Kings Grant, NCNC9,0031,787+5%

21Henderson, NCNC15,0131,782−5%

22Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671,722+26%

23Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,719+24%

24Hope Mills, NCNC18,3241,717+35%

25Davidson, NCNC16,6621,687+53%

26Stallings, NCNC17,7601,651+334%

27Murraysville, NCNC16,3391,650+95%

28Cullowhee, NCNC7,9731,636+74%

29Burlington, NCNC61,4961,635+11%

30Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,596+9%

31Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,589−7%

32Matthews, NCNC32,7691,589+23%

33Thomasville, NCNC27,7331,586+35%

34Wilson, NCNC49,5721,567+11%

35Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,554+35%

36Wake Forest, NCNC58,1471,534+139%

37Ogden, NCNC8,2491,495+23%

38Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,470+182%

39Gibsonville, NCNC9,8761,468+47%

40Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,467+27%

41Dallas, NCNC6,3921,460+32%

42Apex, NCNC80,4191,458+85%

43Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,437+5%

44Brevard, NCNC8,0981,416+12%

45Fayetteville, NCNC209,1201,353+66%

46Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,352+8%

47Garner, NCNC41,5621,344+45%

48Graham, NCNC20,1311,326+10%

49Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6371,323+25%

50Oxford, NCNC8,9851,322+1%

51Asheboro, NCNC27,9901,312+15%

52Marion, NCNC7,4401,312+59%

53Dunn, NCNC8,8141,309+1%

54Siler City, NCNC8,1551,304+13%

55Holly Springs, NCNC50,2881,301+168%

56Ayden, NCNC5,2631,293+7%

57Archdale, NCNC12,2541,292+27%

58Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,286+3%

59Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,274−7%

60Laurinburg, NCNC14,5821,272+1%

61Hickory, NCNC45,9751,255+7%

62Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,251−1%

63Concord, NCNC114,5981,235+41%

64Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,233+8%

65Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,233+15%

66Knightdale, NCNC23,1441,232+91%

67Kernersville, NCNC29,1281,231+35%

68Williamston, NCNC5,0861,222−6%

69Havelock, NCNC17,4301,214−8%

70Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331,212+42%

71Long View, NCNC5,3871,210+3%

72Mooresville, NCNC55,8421,201+74%

73Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7311,192+13%

74Washington, NCNC9,9101,190+2%

75Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,189+5%

76East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231,187+20%

77Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,187+4%

78Kinston, NCNC19,7051,186−8%

79Black Mountain, NCNC8,4911,169+4%

80Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,169+13%

81Porters Neck, NCNC7,6541,147–

82Nashville, NCNC5,9111,140+24%

83Fletcher, NCNC8,3731,135+72%

84Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,128−4%

85Pineville, NCNC11,8511,126+117%

86Half Moon, NCNC7,3781,125+26%

87Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,123+87%

88Clinton, NCNC8,4661,123+0%

89Selma, NCNC7,4061,123+3%

90King, NCNC7,9771,121+16%

91Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,105+7%

92Westport, NCNC5,9151,097+101%

93Eden, NCNC15,5001,092−2%

94Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5401,061+106%

95Hillsborough, NCNC9,7781,061+12%

96Monroe, NCNC42,6441,047+25%

97New Bern, NCNC34,7241,037+28%

98Tarboro, NCNC10,9791,013+2%

99Cherryville, NCNC6,523992+7%

100Lexington, NCNC20,238985−5%

101Angier, NCNC9,410981+27%

102Reidsville, NCNC14,692980+0%

103Piney Green, NCNC14,078975+14%

104Clayton, NCNC32,633963+131%

105St. Stephens, NCNC9,457962−7%

106Mebane, NCNC21,952956+56%

107Bessemer City, NCNC5,834946+4%

108Newton, NCNC13,822940+3%

109Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536940+127%

110Marvin, NCNC7,040930+437%

111Mint Hill, NCNC29,476924+52%

112Harrisburg, NCNC20,742919+157%

113Shelby, NCNC23,309909+4%

114Cramerton, NCNC5,713897+40%

115Sanford, NCNC34,138890+21%

116Statesville, NCNC32,181888+5%

117Mount Airy, NCNC10,682887+22%

118Albemarle, NCNC17,769884+1%

119Wadesboro, NCNC5,035881+64%

120Morganton, NCNC17,849880−2%

121Lenoir, NCNC18,372875+9%

122Forest City, NCNC7,410872−1%

123Lewisville, NCNC14,421871+43%

124Smithfield, NCNC13,114863−5%

125Belmont, NCNC16,415826+16%

126Waxhaw, NCNC23,140812+276%

127Sawmills, NCNC5,105793+6%

128Pinehurst, NCNC18,670785+35%

129Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505772+40%

130Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566768+193%

131Creedmoor, NCNC5,046758+85%

132Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494734+56%

133Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117733+6%

134Zebulon, NCNC11,933729+10%

135Swannanoa, NCNC6,901718+11%

136Conover, NCNC8,938715+24%

137Southern Pines, NCNC17,357698+13%

138Walkertown, NCNC6,120698+17%

139Pittsboro, NCNC5,054682+68%

140Wendell, NCNC19,687668+38%

141Woodfin, NCNC8,229666+94%

142Mocksville, NCNC6,282639+21%

143Rolesville, NCNC12,839620+317%

144Leland, NCNC35,731606+598%

145Aberdeen, NCNC10,066600+87%

146Midway, NCNC5,104600–

147Butner, NCNC8,112550+31%

148Weddington, NCNC14,517540+41%

149Spring Lake, NCNC11,252507+48%

150Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649473–

151Lillington, NCNC5,040446+10%

152Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287440+9%

153Shallotte, NCNC5,335398+166%

154Etowah, NCNC7,968393+151%

155Trinity, NCNC7,274392−1%

156Summerfield, NCNC11,327388+46%

157Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896369+55%

158Moyock, NCNC5,684360–

159Locust, NCNC6,120356+21%

160Oak Island, NCNC9,337352+3%

161St. James, NCNC7,318347+294%

162Mills River, NCNC7,504304–

163Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908300+53%

164Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165299−5%

165Stokesdale, NCNC6,133265+54%

166Surf City, NCNC5,142241+33%

167Midland, NCNC5,151230–

168Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875223+81%

169Unionville, NCNC7,322203+24%

170Hampstead, NCNC9,292202–

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

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