RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most sparsely populated, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the fewest residents per square mile (2020). This list covers the 174 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 174 is 1,209.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2025

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOPULATION DENSITYVS 2000

01Unionville, NCNC7,322227+38%

02Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875247+100%

03Stokesdale, NCNC6,133311+81%

04Mills River, NCNC7,504316–

05Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165333+6%

06Hampstead, NCNC9,292347–

07Midland, NCNC5,151351–

08Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906359–

09Summerfield, NCNC11,327415+56%

10Trinity, NCNC7,274415+5%

11Etowah, NCNC7,968433+176%

12Oak Island, NCNC9,337436+28%

13Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896446+87%

14Shallotte, NCNC5,335453+203%

15Spring Lake, NCNC11,252494+44%

16Moyock, NCNC5,684494–

17Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287496+23%

18Surf City, NCNC5,142503+178%

19Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649529–

20Locust, NCNC6,120552+88%

21Midway, NCNC5,104608–

22Butner, NCNC8,112609+45%

23Lillington, NCNC5,040661+62%

24Anderson Creek, NCNC13,927674–

25St. James, NCNC7,318716+712%

26Conover, NCNC8,938737+28%

27Mocksville, NCNC6,282747+41%

28Weddington, NCNC14,517752+97%

29Wadesboro, NCNC5,035759+41%

30Sawmills, NCNC5,105760+2%

31Swannanoa, NCNC6,901788+22%

32Kings Mountain, NCNC12,117794+15%

33Aberdeen, NCNC10,066805+150%

34Pittsboro, NCNC5,054827+104%

35Walkertown, NCNC6,120850+42%

36Forest City, NCNC7,410861−2%

37Woodfin, NCNC8,229863+151%

38Southern Pines, NCNC17,357880+42%

39Lenoir, NCNC18,372881+9%

40Smithfield, NCNC13,114889−2%

41Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566893+241%

42Creedmoor, NCNC5,046894+118%

43Morganton, NCNC17,849909+1%

44Mount Airy, NCNC10,682911+26%

45Albemarle, NCNC17,769913+5%

46Lewisville, NCNC14,421922+52%

47Tarboro, NCNC10,979951−4%

48Newton, NCNC13,822953+5%

49Sanford, NCNC34,138958+30%

50Bessemer City, NCNC5,834962+6%

51St. Stephens, NCNC9,457973−6%

52Havelock, NCNC17,430973−26%

53Shelby, NCNC23,309980+13%

54Reidsville, NCNC14,692985+1%

55Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908987+402%

56Half Moon, NCNC7,3781,016+14%

57Lexington, NCNC20,2381,021−2%

58Leland, NCNC35,7311,026+1082%

59Statesville, NCNC32,1811,029+22%

60Cherryville, NCNC6,5231,047+13%

61Lumberton, NCNC18,9551,048−9%

62Pinehurst, NCNC18,6701,052+81%

63Piney Green, NCNC14,0781,055+23%

64Marvin, NCNC7,0401,060+512%

65Spout Springs, NCNC11,2421,066–

66Mint Hill, NCNC29,4761,076+77%

67Eden, NCNC15,5001,084−3%

68Kinston, NCNC19,7051,089−16%

69Clinton, NCNC8,4661,090−3%

70Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,098−6%

71New Bern, NCNC34,7241,099+35%

72Monroe, NCNC42,6441,103+32%

73Wendell, NCNC19,6871,120+131%

74Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4941,129+140%

75Zebulon, NCNC11,9331,134+71%

76Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,135+10%

77Cramerton, NCNC5,7131,140+78%

78Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,1440%

79Williamston, NCNC5,0861,163−10%

80Selma, NCNC7,4061,168+7%

81King, NCNC7,9771,168+21%

82Goldsboro, NCNC35,0121,177−14%

83Angier, NCNC9,4101,187+54%

84Dunn, NCNC8,8141,193−8%

85Laurinburg, NCNC14,5821,194−6%

86Nashville, NCNC5,9111,200+31%

87Washington, NCNC9,9101,206+3%

88Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,209−4%

89Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1201,216−3%

90Belmont, NCNC16,4151,231+72%

91Black Mountain, NCNC8,4911,256+12%

92Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,258+11%

93Fletcher, NCNC8,3731,261+91%

94Long View, NCNC5,3871,264+8%

95Siler City, NCNC8,1551,273+11%

96Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,290+24%

97Marion, NCNC7,4401,292+56%

98Ayden, NCNC5,2631,305+8%

99Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051,315+139%

100Archdale, NCNC12,2541,347+32%

101Oxford, NCNC8,9851,348+3%

102Hickory, NCNC45,9751,364+17%

103Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7311,365+30%

104Porters Neck, NCNC7,6541,367–

105East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3231,368+39%

106Fayetteville, NCNC209,1201,406+72%

107Kernersville, NCNC29,1281,408+54%

108Asheboro, NCNC27,9901,425+25%

109Brevard, NCNC8,0981,442+14%

110Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,474+146%

111Jacksonville, NCNC72,7321,490+9%

112Mebane, NCNC21,9521,494+144%

113Harrisburg, NCNC20,7421,512+322%

114Gastonia, NCNC87,0671,515+21%

115Wilson, NCNC49,5721,525+8%

116Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3861,536−10%

117Kannapolis, NCNC61,7081,536+44%

118Salisbury, NCNC36,8791,549+34%

119Rolesville, NCNC12,8391,551+945%

120Westport, NCNC5,9151,554+184%

121Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331,571+84%

122Clayton, NCNC32,6331,571+277%

123Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6221,592+8%

124Pineville, NCNC11,8511,596+207%

125Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5401,597+210%

126Graham, NCNC20,1311,607+34%

127Thomasville, NCNC27,7331,611+37%

128Garner, NCNC41,5621,627+75%

129Concord, NCNC114,5981,644+88%

130Hillsborough, NCNC9,7781,683+77%

131Waxhaw, NCNC23,1401,691+682%

132Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6371,711+61%

133Matthews, NCNC32,7691,720+33%

134Henderson, NCNC15,0131,746−6%

135Indian Trail, NCNC44,3031,754+236%

136Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,766+53%

137Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5361,789+332%

138Ogden, NCNC8,2491,812+50%

139Mooresville, NCNC55,8421,843+167%

140Kings Grant, NCNC9,0031,865+9%

141Winston-Salem, NCNC257,2711,868+34%

142Burlington, NCNC61,4961,876+28%

143Stallings, NCNC17,7601,923+405%

144Murraysville, NCNC16,3391,925+128%

145Dallas, NCNC6,3921,929+74%

146Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671,984+45%

147High Point, NCNC120,5711,990+33%

148Hope Mills, NCNC18,3242,015+58%

149Cullowhee, NCNC7,9732,017+115%

150Gibsonville, NCNC9,8762,043+104%

151Asheville, NCNC93,5232,080+37%

152Knightdale, NCNC23,1442,100+226%

153Winterville, NCNC10,9732,121+118%

154Holly Springs, NCNC50,2882,176+349%

155Northchase, NCNC5,8962,234–

156Greensboro, NCNC308,6672,234+34%

157Wilmington, NCNC126,8092,246+52%

158Apex, NCNC80,4192,287+191%

159Davidson, NCNC16,6622,328+112%

160Greenville, NCNC96,4432,338+45%

161Wake Forest, NCNC58,1472,424+278%

162Durham, NCNC305,5612,428+52%

163Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0492,444–

164Cornelius, NCNC35,0942,478+162%

165Silver Lake, NCNC6,5632,636+12%

166Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8702,677+40%

167Elon, NCNC11,3662,716–

168Charlotte, NCNC964,7842,814+62%

169Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5652,861+27%

170Cary, NCNC183,5822,906+85%

171Boone, NCNC19,9292,991+42%

172Raleigh, NCNC506,3063,129+69%

173Morrisville, NCNC32,4663,232+469%

174Carrboro, NCNC20,9623,289+27%

SHOWING 1–174 OF 174

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS