RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 174 SHOWN OF 174

Most sparsely populated, North Carolina cities · 2020

North Carolina cities with the fewest 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

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, NCNC5,8701,144+0%

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

Download CSV (full list, 174 rows)

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