14 cities
| City | Rank | 2025 Pop. ↓ | 2020 Pop. | Annual Change | Density | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby | 1 | 22,984 | 21,953 | 0.9% | 1,028 | 22 | City |
| Kings Mountain | 2 | 11,947 | 11,197 | 1.27% | 803 | 15 | City |
| Boiling Springs | 3 | 4,765 | 4,732 | 0.13% | 1,063 | 4 | Town |
| Grover | 4 | 812 | 805 | 0.12% | 849 | 1 | Town |
| Kingstown | 5 | 665 | 660 | 0.15% | 378 | 2 | Town |
| Fallston | 6 | 641 | 629 | 0.31% | 296 | 2 | Town |
| Patterson Springs | 7 | 582 | 574 | 0.17% | 567 | 1 | Town |
| Lawndale | 8 | 575 | 569 | 0.17% | 713 | 1 | Town |
| Polkville | 9 | 525 | 517 | 0.19% | 282 | 2 | City |
| Lattimore | 10 | 452 | 435 | 0.67% | 441 | 1 | Town |
| Waco | 11 | 315 | 310 | 0.32% | 376 | 1 | Town |
| Casar | 12 | 307 | 306 | 0% | 175 | 2 | Town |
| Mooresboro | 13 | 299 | 296 | 0% | 169 | 2 | Town |
| Earl | 14 | 209 | 202 | 0.48% | 243 | 1 | Town |
Shelby is the largest city in Cleveland County, with a population of 22,984.
Earl is the smallest city in Cleveland County, with a population of 209.
There are 14 cities in Cleveland County, North Carolina.