RANKING · 2024 ACS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most population gained, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities that added the most residents from the 2020 census to 2024, by raw count of people rather than percentage. This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

Flip the list · Most population lost, US cities →

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION CHANGEVS 2000

01Charlotte, NCNC964,784+29,265−80%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,306+13,366−80%

03Apex, NCNC80,419+11,850−22%

04Durham, NCNC305,561+7,961−84%

05Leland, NCNC35,731+6,699+4278%

06Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+6,333+90%

07Wilmington, NCNC126,809+5,354−74%

08Greenville, NCNC96,443+5,336−66%

09Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+5,243−23%

10Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+4,776−34%

11Cary, NCNC183,582+4,585−91%

12Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+4,009−52%

13Concord, NCNC114,598+3,479−88%

14Garner, NCNC41,562+3,314+19%

15Wendell, NCNC19,687+3,271+127%

16Clayton, NCNC32,633+3,013+36%

17Huntersville, NCNC68,535+2,593−88%

18Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+2,492−94%

19Gastonia, NCNC87,067+2,473−79%

20Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+2,314−95%

21Burlington, NCNC61,496+2,307−58%

22Hampstead, NCNC9,292+2,276–

23Monroe, NCNC42,644+2,197−78%

24Mooresville, NCNC55,842+2,188−77%

25High Point, NCNC120,571+2,186−87%

26Greensboro, NCNC308,667+2,163−95%

27Northchase, NCNC5,896+2,054–

28Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+2,039−80%

29Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+1,880+272%

30Zebulon, NCNC11,933+1,808+107%

31Morrisville, NCNC32,466+1,792−57%

32Mebane, NCNC21,952+1,741−32%

33Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+1,741+31%

34Statesville, NCNC32,181+1,475−74%

35New Bern, NCNC34,724+1,443−75%

36Kernersville, NCNC29,128+1,381−78%

37Cornelius, NCNC35,094+1,371−85%

38Locust, NCNC6,120+1,303+166%

39Rolesville, NCNC12,839+1,291+291%

40Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906+1,248–

41Sanford, NCNC34,138+1,217−86%

42Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+1,161−59%

43Matthews, NCNC32,769+1,142−87%

44Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+1,106−67%

45Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494+1,099–

46Havelock, NCNC17,430+1,070−51%

47Angier, NCNC9,410+976−18%

48Briar Chapel, NCNC6,049+941–

49Boone, NCNC19,929+940+69%

50Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+897−6%

51Graham, NCNC20,131+891−63%

52Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+875−51%

53Smithfield, NCNC13,114+824−79%

54Knightdale, NCNC23,144+779−81%

55Stallings, NCNC17,760+774−21%

56Hickory, NCNC45,975+768−91%

57Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287+761−345%

58Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+733+579%

59Goldsboro, NCNC35,012+726−144%

60Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+712+2%

61Clemmons, NCNC22,808+708−91%

62Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+692−78%

63Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+675−85%

64Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+666−77%

65Oak Island, NCNC9,337+634–

66Weddington, NCNC14,517+624−78%

67St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+605−14%

68East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+566−37%

69Davidson, NCNC16,662+554−82%

70Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+547−47%

71St. James, NCNC7,318+543–

72Kings Grant, NCNC9,003+537–

73Belmont, NCNC16,415+536+98%

74Moyock, NCNC5,684+530–

75Surf City, NCNC5,142+529+19%

76Wilson, NCNC49,572+519−93%

77Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+505−74%

78Selma, NCNC7,406+500−62%

79Shallotte, NCNC5,335+454+12%

80Pineville, NCNC11,851+453−17%

81Lewisville, NCNC14,421+447−92%

82Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540+429–

83Asheboro, NCNC27,990+424−92%

84Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566+409–

85Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+404−69%

86Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649+389–

87Waynesville, NCNC11,006+362−85%

88Marvin, NCNC7,040+334–

89Albemarle, NCNC17,769+330−55%

90Etowah, NCNC7,968+326−57%

91Unionville, NCNC7,322+311–

92Siler City, NCNC8,155+293−86%

93Cullowhee, NCNC7,973+291−165%

94Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927+291–

95Oxford, NCNC8,985+286−33%

96Salisbury, NCNC36,879+285−92%

97Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+271−91%

98Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896+270–

99Winterville, NCNC10,973+263−87%

100Porters Neck, NCNC7,654+257–

101Morehead City, NCNC10,434+250−85%

102Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+240−92%

103Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+224−74%

104Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+215−73%

105King, NCNC7,977+211−89%

106Westport, NCNC5,915+210−72%

107Mills River, NCNC7,504+203–

108Spout Springs, NCNC11,242+202–

109Newton, NCNC13,822+185−94%

110Shelby, NCNC23,309+182−96%

111Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+181−83%

112Walkertown, NCNC6,120+181−94%

113Archdale, NCNC12,254+180−92%

114Dallas, NCNC6,392+177−55%

115Midland, NCNC5,151+176–

116Ayden, NCNC5,263+173−247%

117Morganton, NCNC17,849+172−92%

118Mocksville, NCNC6,282+168−78%

119Summerfield, NCNC11,327+165−97%

120Conover, NCNC8,938+159−86%

121Midway, NCNC5,104+155–

122Cramerton, NCNC5,713+154−74%

123Brevard, NCNC8,098+153−89%

124Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+152−64%

125Cherryville, NCNC6,523+148−76%

126Thomasville, NCNC27,733+138−96%

127Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+131−96%

128Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+131−81%

129Dunn, NCNC8,814+113−87%

130Woodfin, NCNC8,229+112−76%

131Fletcher, NCNC8,373+111−92%

132Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+109−97%

133Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+105−94%

134Trinity, NCNC7,274+105−91%

135Nashville, NCNC5,911+97−89%

136Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+87−96%

137Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+80−93%

138Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+64−95%

139Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+63−96%

140Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+60−98%

141Lexington, NCNC20,238+58−98%

142Ogden, NCNC8,249+49−98%

143Tarboro, NCNC10,979+49−51%

144Roxboro, NCNC8,380+48−96%

145Sawmills, NCNC5,105+22−98%

146Reidsville, NCNC14,692+2−100%

147Forest City, NCNC7,410-14−119%

148Lillington, NCNC5,040-26−103%

149Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-36−61%

150Mount Airy, NCNC10,682-43−103%

151Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120-44−101%

152Lenoir, NCNC18,372-53−102%

153Asheville, NCNC93,523-54−101%

154Hamlet, NCNC5,870-64−64%

155Eden, NCNC15,500-65−110%

156Long View, NCNC5,387-77−105%

157Clinton, NCNC8,466-79−120%

158Spring Lake, NCNC11,252-87−115%

159Carrboro, NCNC20,962-91−102%

160Williamston, NCNC5,086-136−140%

161Marion, NCNC7,440-138−178%

162Washington, NCNC9,910-149−129%

163Half Moon, NCNC7,378-165−149%

164Lumberton, NCNC18,955-166−108%

165Henderson, NCNC15,013-175−152%

166Murraysville, NCNC16,339-243–

167Rockingham, NCNC8,815-276−201%

168Elon, NCNC11,366-304–

169Piney Green, NCNC14,078-308−112%

170Butner, NCNC8,112-332−130%

171Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565-353−104%

172Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386-373−130%

173Kinston, NCNC19,705-395−75%

174Jacksonville, NCNC72,732-1,444−104%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES