RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most population lost, North Carolina cities · 2000

North Carolina cities that lost the most residents from the 1990 census to 2000, by raw count of people rather than percentage. This list covers the 151 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

YEAR2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION CHANGEVS –

01Goldsboro, NCNC35,012-1,666–

02Kinston, NCNC19,705-1,607–

03Cullowhee, NCNC7,973-450–

04Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287-311–

05Hamlet, NCNC5,870-178–

06Ayden, NCNC5,263-118–

07Wadesboro, NCNC5,035-93–

08Forest City, NCNC7,410+74–

09Tarboro, NCNC10,979+101–

10Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908+108–

11Leland, NCNC35,731+153–

12Marion, NCNC7,440+178–

13Belmont, NCNC16,415+271–

14Rockingham, NCNC8,815+273–

15Rolesville, NCNC12,839+330–

16Henderson, NCNC15,013+334–

17Half Moon, NCNC7,378+339–

18Williamston, NCNC5,086+340–

19Dallas, NCNC6,392+390–

20Clinton, NCNC8,466+396–

21Shallotte, NCNC5,335+405–

22Bessemer City, NCNC5,834+421–

23Oxford, NCNC8,985+425–

24Surf City, NCNC5,142+445–

25Woodfin, NCNC8,229+473–

26Locust, NCNC6,120+489–

27Swannanoa, NCNC6,901+505–

28Washington, NCNC9,910+508–

29Pineville, NCNC11,851+548–

30Boone, NCNC19,929+557–

31Spring Lake, NCNC11,252+574–

32Cramerton, NCNC5,713+587–

33Cherryville, NCNC6,523+605–

34Eden, NCNC15,500+670–

35Aberdeen, NCNC10,066+700–

36St. Stephens, NCNC9,457+705–

37Creedmoor, NCNC5,046+707–

38Albemarle, NCNC17,769+741–

39Westport, NCNC5,915+748–

40Etowah, NCNC7,968+763–

41Mocksville, NCNC6,282+779–

42Pittsboro, NCNC5,054+790–

43Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505+847–

44Nashville, NCNC5,911+860–

45Dunn, NCNC8,814+860–

46Lillington, NCNC5,040+867–

47Zebulon, NCNC11,933+873–

48East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323+901–

49Sawmills, NCNC5,105+927–

50Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117+951–

51Stallings, NCNC17,760+976–

52Gibsonville, NCNC9,876+1,030–

53Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870+1,070–

54Butner, NCNC8,112+1,113–

55Conover, NCNC8,938+1,139–

56Stokesdale, NCNC6,133+1,155–

57Hillsborough, NCNC9,778+1,183–

58Angier, NCNC9,410+1,184–

59Trinity, NCNC7,274+1,229–

60Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,386+1,235–

61Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875+1,300–

62Selma, NCNC7,406+1,314–

63Mount Airy, NCNC10,682+1,328–

64Waxhaw, NCNC23,140+1,331–

65Roxboro, NCNC8,380+1,364–

66Fletcher, NCNC8,373+1,398–

67Brevard, NCNC8,098+1,401–

68Wendell, NCNC19,687+1,442–

69Long View, NCNC5,387+1,502–

70Morehead City, NCNC10,434+1,645–

71Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731+1,659–

72Silver Lake, NCNC6,563+1,717–

73Southern Pines, NCNC17,357+1,789–

74King, NCNC7,977+1,893–

75Mount Holly, NCNC19,033+1,908–

76Winterville, NCNC10,973+1,991–

77Ogden, NCNC8,249+2,082–

78Lumberton, NCNC18,955+2,088–

79Black Mountain, NCNC8,491+2,093–

80Archdale, NCNC12,254+2,132–

81Siler City, NCNC8,155+2,158–

82Havelock, NCNC17,430+2,174–

83Clayton, NCNC32,633+2,217–

84Morganton, NCNC17,849+2,225–

85Reidsville, NCNC14,692+2,302–

86Graham, NCNC20,131+2,407–

87Waynesville, NCNC11,006+2,413–

88Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165+2,521–

89Mebane, NCNC21,952+2,544–

90Lenoir, NCNC18,372+2,601–

91Piney Green, NCNC14,078+2,659–

92Garner, NCNC41,562+2,790–

93Walkertown, NCNC6,120+2,809–

94Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637+2,850–

95Harrisburg, NCNC20,742+2,868–

96Weddington, NCNC14,517+2,893–

97Elizabeth City, NCNC19,622+2,909–

98Hope Mills, NCNC18,324+3,053–

99Davidson, NCNC16,662+3,093–

100Lincolnton, NCNC12,465+3,118–

101Hendersonville, NCNC15,867+3,136–

102Newton, NCNC13,822+3,256–

103Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536+3,336–

104Mint Hill, NCNC29,476+3,355–

105Lexington, NCNC20,238+3,372–

106Salisbury, NCNC36,879+3,375–

107Thomasville, NCNC27,733+3,873–

108Smithfield, NCNC13,114+3,970–

109Knightdale, NCNC23,144+4,074–

110Morrisville, NCNC32,466+4,186–

111Laurinburg, NCNC14,582+4,238–

112Pinehurst, NCNC18,670+4,603–

113Shelby, NCNC23,309+4,808–

114Summerfield, NCNC11,327+4,851–

115Carrboro, NCNC20,962+5,229–

116Asheboro, NCNC27,990+5,310–

117Burlington, NCNC61,496+5,549–

118Lewisville, NCNC14,421+5,620–

119Statesville, NCNC32,181+5,753–

120New Bern, NCNC34,724+5,765–

121Kernersville, NCNC29,128+6,290–

122Rocky Mount, NCNC55,120+6,728–

123Wake Forest, NCNC58,147+6,819–

124Kannapolis, NCNC61,708+7,214–

125Asheville, NCNC93,523+7,235–

126Wilson, NCNC49,572+7,475–

127Clemmons, NCNC22,808+7,807–

128Holly Springs, NCNC50,288+8,272–

129Matthews, NCNC32,769+8,476–

130Sanford, NCNC34,138+8,745–

131Hickory, NCNC45,975+8,885–

132Cornelius, NCNC35,094+9,388–

133Mooresville, NCNC55,842+9,506–

134Chapel Hill, NCNC63,565+9,953–

135Indian Trail, NCNC44,303+9,963–

136Monroe, NCNC42,644+10,101–

137Gastonia, NCNC87,067+11,545–

138Apex, NCNC80,419+15,244–

139Greenville, NCNC96,443+15,504–

140High Point, NCNC120,571+16,445–

141Wilmington, NCNC126,809+20,308–

142Huntersville, NCNC68,535+21,946–

143Concord, NCNC114,598+28,630–

144Jacksonville, NCNC72,732+36,702–

145Greensboro, NCNC308,667+40,370–

146Winston-Salem, NCNC257,271+42,291–

147Fayetteville, NCNC209,120+45,320–

148Durham, NCNC305,561+50,441–

149Cary, NCNC183,582+50,678–

150Raleigh, NCNC506,306+68,142–

151Charlotte, NCNC964,784+144,825–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS