RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most densely populated, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities ranked by residents per square mile (2023). This list covers the 174 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, NCNC20,9623,289+27%

02Morrisville, NCNC32,4663,232+469%

03Raleigh, NCNC506,3063,129+69%

04Boone, NCNC19,9292,991+42%

05Cary, NCNC183,5822,906+85%

06Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5652,861+27%

07Charlotte, NCNC964,7842,814+62%

08Elon, NCNC11,3662,716–

09Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8702,677+40%

10Silver Lake, NCNC6,5632,636+12%

11Cornelius, NCNC35,0942,478+162%

12Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0492,444–

13Durham, NCNC305,5612,428+52%

14Wake Forest, NCNC58,1472,424+278%

15Greenville, NCNC96,4432,338+45%

16Davidson, NCNC16,6622,328+112%

17Apex, NCNC80,4192,287+191%

18Wilmington, NCNC126,8092,246+52%

19Greensboro, NCNC308,6672,234+34%

20Northchase, NCNC5,8962,234–

21Holly Springs, NCNC50,2882,176+349%

22Winterville, NCNC10,9732,121+118%

23Knightdale, NCNC23,1442,100+226%

24Asheville, NCNC93,5232,080+37%

25Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762,043+104%

26Cullowhee, NCNC7,9732,017+115%

27Hope Mills, NCNC18,3242,015+58%

28High Point, NCNC120,5711,990+33%

29Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671,984+45%

30Dallas, NCNC6,3921,929+74%

31Murraysville, NCNC16,3391,925+128%

32Stallings, NCNC17,7601,923+405%

33Burlington, NCNC61,4961,876+28%

34Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,868+34%

35Kings Grant, NCNC9,0031,865+9%

36Mooresville, NCNC55,8421,843+167%

37Ogden, NCNC8,2491,812+50%

38Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5361,789+332%

39Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,766+53%

40Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,754+236%

41Henderson, NCNC15,0131,746−6%

42Matthews, NCNC32,7691,720+33%

43Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6371,711+61%

44Waxhaw, NCNC23,1401,691+682%

45Hillsborough, NCNC9,7781,683+77%

46Concord, NCNC114,5981,644+88%

47Garner, NCNC41,5621,627+75%

48Thomasville, NCNC27,7331,611+37%

49Graham, NCNC20,1311,607+34%

50Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5401,597+210%

51Pineville, NCNC11,8511,596+207%

52Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,592+8%

53Clayton, NCNC32,6331,571+277%

54Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331,571+84%

55Westport, NCNC5,9151,554+184%

56Rolesville, NCNC12,8391,551+945%

57Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,549+34%

58Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,536+44%

59Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,536−10%

60Wilson, NCNC49,5721,525+8%

61Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,515+21%

62Harrisburg, NCNC20,7421,512+322%

63Mebane, NCNC21,9521,494+144%

64Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,490+9%

65Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,474+146%

66Brevard, NCNC8,0981,442+14%

67Asheboro, NCNC27,9901,425+25%

68Kernersville, NCNC29,1281,408+54%

69Fayetteville, NCNC209,1201,406+72%

70East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231,368+39%

71Porters Neck, NCNC7,6541,367–

72Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7311,365+30%

73Hickory, NCNC45,9751,364+17%

74Oxford, NCNC8,9851,348+3%

75Archdale, NCNC12,2541,347+32%

76Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051,315+139%

77Ayden, NCNC5,2631,305+8%

78Marion, NCNC7,4401,292+56%

79Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,290+24%

80Siler City, NCNC8,1551,273+11%

81Long View, NCNC5,3871,264+8%

82Fletcher, NCNC8,3731,261+91%

83Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,258+11%

84Black Mountain, NCNC8,4911,256+12%

85Belmont, NCNC16,4151,231+72%

86Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,216−3%

87Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,209−4%

88Washington, NCNC9,9101,206+3%

89Nashville, NCNC5,9111,200+31%

90Laurinburg, NCNC14,5821,194−6%

91Dunn, NCNC8,8141,193−8%

92Angier, NCNC9,4101,187+54%

93Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,177−14%

94King, NCNC7,9771,168+21%

95Selma, NCNC7,4061,168+7%

96Williamston, NCNC5,0861,163−10%

97Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,144+0%

98Cramerton, NCNC5,7131,140+78%

99Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,135+10%

100Zebulon, NCNC11,9331,134+71%

101Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4941,129+140%

102Wendell, NCNC19,6871,120+131%

103Monroe, NCNC42,6441,103+32%

104New Bern, NCNC34,7241,099+35%

105Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,098−6%

106Clinton, NCNC8,4661,090−3%

107Kinston, NCNC19,7051,089−16%

108Eden, NCNC15,5001,084−3%

109Mint Hill, NCNC29,4761,076+77%

110Spout Springs, NCNC11,2421,066–

111Marvin, NCNC7,0401,060+512%

112Piney Green, NCNC14,0781,055+23%

113Pinehurst, NCNC18,6701,052+81%

114Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,048−9%

115Cherryville, NCNC6,5231,047+13%

116Statesville, NCNC32,1811,029+22%

117Leland, NCNC35,7311,026+1082%

118Lexington, NCNC20,2381,021−2%

119Half Moon, NCNC7,3781,016+14%

120Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908987+402%

121Reidsville, NCNC14,692985+1%

122Shelby, NCNC23,309980+13%

123Havelock, NCNC17,430973−26%

124St. Stephens, NCNC9,457973−6%

125Bessemer City, NCNC5,834962+6%

126Sanford, NCNC34,138958+30%

127Newton, NCNC13,822953+5%

128Tarboro, NCNC10,979951−4%

129Lewisville, NCNC14,421922+52%

130Albemarle, NCNC17,769913+5%

131Mount Airy, NCNC10,682911+26%

132Morganton, NCNC17,849909+1%

133Creedmoor, NCNC5,046894+118%

134Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566893+241%

135Smithfield, NCNC13,114889−2%

136Lenoir, NCNC18,372881+9%

137Southern Pines, NCNC17,357880+42%

138Woodfin, NCNC8,229863+151%

139Forest City, NCNC7,410861−2%

140Walkertown, NCNC6,120850+42%

141Pittsboro, NCNC5,054827+104%

142Aberdeen, NCNC10,066805+150%

143Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117794+15%

144Swannanoa, NCNC6,901788+22%

145Sawmills, NCNC5,105760+2%

146Wadesboro, NCNC5,035759+41%

147Weddington, NCNC14,517752+97%

148Mocksville, NCNC6,282747+41%

149Conover, NCNC8,938737+28%

150St. James, NCNC7,318716+712%

151Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927674–

152Lillington, NCNC5,040661+62%

153Butner, NCNC8,112609+45%

154Midway, NCNC5,104608–

155Locust, NCNC6,120552+88%

156Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649529–

157Surf City, NCNC5,142503+178%

158Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287496+23%

159Moyock, NCNC5,684494–

160Spring Lake, NCNC11,252494+44%

161Shallotte, NCNC5,335453+203%

162Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896446+87%

163Oak Island, NCNC9,337436+28%

164Etowah, NCNC7,968433+176%

165Trinity, NCNC7,274415+5%

166Summerfield, NCNC11,327415+56%

167Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906359–

168Midland, NCNC5,151351–

169Hampstead, NCNC9,292347–

170Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165333+6%

171Mills River, NCNC7,504316–

172Stokesdale, NCNC6,133311+81%

173Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875247+100%

174Unionville, NCNC7,322227+38%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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