14 cities
| City | Rank | 2026 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | 1 | 23,190 | 21,953 | 0.9% | 1,037 | 22 | City |
| Kings Mountain | 2 | 12,097 | 11,197 | 1.26% | 813 | 15 | City |
| Boiling Springs | 3 | 4,772 | 4,732 | 0.15% | 1,065 | 4 | Town |
| Grover | 4 | 814 | 805 | 0.25% | 851 | 1 | Town |
| Kingstown | 5 | 666 | 660 | 0.15% | 378 | 2 | Town |
| Fallston | 6 | 644 | 629 | 0.47% | 297 | 2 | Town |
| Patterson Springs | 7 | 584 | 574 | 0.34% | 569 | 1 | Town |
| Lawndale | 8 | 576 | 569 | 0.17% | 714 | 1 | Town |
| Polkville | 9 | 527 | 517 | 0.38% | 283 | 2 | City |
| Lattimore | 10 | 456 | 435 | 0.88% | 445 | 1 | Town |
| Waco | 11 | 316 | 310 | 0.32% | 377 | 1 | Town |
| Casar | 12 | 307 | 306 | 0% | 175 | 2 | Town |
| Mooresboro | 13 | 300 | 296 | 0.33% | 170 | 2 | Town |
| Earl | 14 | 211 | 202 | 0.96% | 245 | 1 | Town |
Shelby is the largest city in Cleveland County, with a population of 23,190.
Earl is the smallest city in Cleveland County, with a population of 211.
There are 14 cities in Cleveland County, North Carolina.