330 cities
| City | Rank | Annual Change ↓ | 2025 Pop. | 2020 Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendell | 1 | 10.17% | 18,558 | 9,991 |
| Zebulon | 2 | 8.24% | 11,371 | 7,041 |
| Calabash | 3 | 8.03% | 3,214 | 2,017 |
| Angier | 4 | 7.79% | 8,929 | 5,702 |
| Leland | 5 | 6.74% | 36,773 | 25,163 |
| Belville | 6 | 6.7% | 3,473 | 2,382 |
| Holly Ridge | 7 | 6.59% | 6,146 | 4,243 |
| Fuquay | 8 | 6.35% | 49,257 | 34,556 |
| Navassa | 9 | 5.52% | 1,874 | 1,382 |
| Surf City | 10 | 5.38% | 5,228 | 3,893 |
| Garner | 11 | 5.04% | 41,328 | 31,412 |
| Shallotte | 12 | 4.84% | 5,411 | 4,161 |
| Locust | 13 | 4.77% | 6,278 | 4,848 |
| Rolesville | 14 | 4.5% | 12,388 | 9,716 |
| Polkton | 15 | 4.15% | 2,810 | 2,247 |
| Carolina Shores | 16 | 4.1% | 5,687 | 4,567 |
| Clayton | 17 | 3.96% | 32,990 | 26,698 |
| Four Oaks | 18 | 3.88% | 2,785 | 2,263 |
| Holly Springs | 19 | 3.65% | 50,449 | 41,574 |
| Apex | 20 | 3.54% | 78,668 | 65,212 |
| Monroe | 21 | 3.35% | 41,396 | 34,685 |
| Youngsville | 22 | 3.12% | 2,449 | 2,076 |
| Archer Lodge | 23 | 3.11% | 5,694 | 4,832 |
| Wake Forest | 24 | 3.1% | 58,524 | 49,723 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 25 | 3.09% | 6,946 | 5,906 |
| Wilson's Mills | 26 | 3.06% | 3,002 | 2,554 |
| Princeton | 27 | 3.05% | 1,553 | 1,322 |
| Franklinton | 28 | 3.01% | 2,910 | 2,483 |
| Selma | 29 | 2.99% | 7,444 | 6,363 |
| Pine Level | 30 | 2.98% | 2,417 | 2,064 |
| Benson | 31 | 2.93% | 4,667 | 4,002 |
| Mebane | 32 | 2.92% | 21,258 | 18,238 |
| La Grange | 33 | 2.87% | 3,006 | 2,585 |
| Smithfield | 34 | 2.8% | 13,164 | 11,373 |
| Graham | 35 | 2.78% | 19,848 | 17,160 |
| Chapel Hill | 36 | 2.74% | 65,780 | 57,017 |
| Kenly | 37 | 2.73% | 1,733 | 1,503 |
| Knightdale | 38 | 2.72% | 22,422 | 19,454 |
| St. James | 39 | 2.61% | 7,506 | 6,549 |
| Waxhaw | 40 | 2.58% | 23,777 | 20,780 |
| Troutman | 41 | 2.5% | 4,340 | 3,808 |
| Oak Island | 42 | 2.5% | 9,555 | 8,387 |
| Aberdeen | 43 | 2.48% | 9,810 | 8,625 |
| Lincolnton | 44 | 2.46% | 12,657 | 11,135 |
| Statesville | 45 | 2.44% | 32,466 | 28,599 |
| Swansboro | 46 | 2.42% | 4,266 | 3,760 |
| Davidson | 47 | 2.19% | 16,633 | 14,847 |
| Louisburg | 48 | 2.13% | 3,496 | 3,129 |
| Kannapolis | 49 | 2.13% | 61,809 | 55,369 |
| Beaufort | 50 | 2.12% | 4,999 | 4,476 |
| New Bern | 51 | 2.1% | 34,938 | 31,338 |
| Pittsboro | 52 | 2.08% | 5,093 | 4,571 |
| Sanford | 53 | 2.08% | 33,656 | 30,231 |
| Cornelius | 54 | 2.07% | 35,076 | 31,523 |
| Huntersville | 55 | 2.04% | 68,456 | 61,609 |
| Marvin | 56 | 2.03% | 7,127 | 6,415 |
| Indian Trail | 57 | 2.03% | 44,757 | 40,304 |
| Wesley Chapel | 58 | 2.01% | 9,686 | 8,730 |
| Pineville | 59 | 2.01% | 11,799 | 10,638 |
| Stallings | 60 | 2% | 17,969 | 16,207 |
| Unionville | 61 | 2% | 7,403 | 6,677 |
| Mineral Springs | 62 | 2% | 3,525 | 3,178 |
| Mint Hill | 63 | 1.99% | 29,398 | 26,532 |
| Fairview | 64 | 1.99% | 3,850 | 3,475 |
| Weddington | 65 | 1.98% | 14,676 | 13,248 |
| Matthews | 66 | 1.97% | 32,680 | 29,520 |
| Sunset Beach | 67 | 1.97% | 4,610 | 4,164 |
| Morrisville | 68 | 1.96% | 33,267 | 30,072 |
| Southport | 69 | 1.96% | 4,426 | 3,999 |
| Foxfire | 70 | 1.93% | 1,428 | 1,293 |
| Lake Park | 71 | 1.93% | 3,651 | 3,303 |
| Whispering Pines | 72 | 1.92% | 5,520 | 5,000 |
| Southern Pines | 73 | 1.91% | 17,312 | 15,686 |
| Kernersville | 74 | 1.89% | 29,305 | 26,579 |
| Robbins | 75 | 1.89% | 1,294 | 1,174 |
| Hemby Bridge | 76 | 1.89% | 1,783 | 1,616 |
| Wilmington | 77 | 1.87% | 127,633 | 115,887 |
| Coats | 78 | 1.86% | 2,360 | 2,145 |
| Carthage | 79 | 1.83% | 3,054 | 2,779 |
| Charlotte | 80 | 1.82% | 960,608 | 874,948 |
| King | 81 | 1.75% | 7,900 | 7,218 |
| Erwin | 82 | 1.75% | 4,950 | 4,523 |
| Harrisburg | 83 | 1.75% | 20,690 | 18,913 |
| Midland | 84 | 1.71% | 5,113 | 4,682 |
| Raleigh | 85 | 1.7% | 508,316 | 465,861 |
| Stanfield | 86 | 1.7% | 1,738 | 1,593 |
| Durham | 87 | 1.67% | 306,917 | 281,679 |
| North Topsail Beach | 88 | 1.67% | 1,099 | 1,007 |
| Concord | 89 | 1.66% | 114,265 | 104,913 |
| Marshville | 90 | 1.59% | 2,753 | 2,538 |
| Oakboro | 91 | 1.59% | 2,306 | 2,123 |
| Burlington | 92 | 1.55% | 62,319 | 57,547 |
| Norwood | 93 | 1.55% | 2,559 | 2,364 |
| Green Level | 94 | 1.55% | 3,414 | 3,153 |
| Broadway | 95 | 1.54% | 1,383 | 1,275 |
| Mars Hill | 96 | 1.54% | 2,242 | 2,072 |
| Gibsonville | 97 | 1.53% | 9,893 | 9,145 |
| Mount Pleasant | 98 | 1.52% | 1,803 | 1,668 |
| Richlands | 99 | 1.51% | 2,483 | 2,296 |
| Midway | 100 | 1.46% | 5,127 | 4,754 |
| Gastonia | 101 | 1.45% | 86,778 | 80,561 |
| Wallburg | 102 | 1.44% | 3,302 | 3,064 |
| Tobaccoville | 103 | 1.42% | 2,779 | 2,584 |
| Haw River | 104 | 1.42% | 2,425 | 2,255 |
| Lewisville | 105 | 1.39% | 14,400 | 13,415 |
| Rural Hall | 106 | 1.38% | 3,611 | 3,364 |
| Clemmons | 107 | 1.38% | 22,780 | 21,233 |
| Belmont | 108 | 1.36% | 16,263 | 15,165 |
| Albemarle | 109 | 1.36% | 17,580 | 16,399 |
| Denton | 110 | 1.33% | 1,601 | 1,493 |
| Walkertown | 111 | 1.33% | 6,107 | 5,706 |
| Andrews | 112 | 1.31% | 1,785 | 1,669 |
| Lowell | 113 | 1.29% | 3,913 | 3,663 |
| Mount Holly | 114 | 1.28% | 18,962 | 17,764 |
| Dallas | 115 | 1.28% | 6,350 | 5,949 |
| Kings Mountain | 116 | 1.27% | 11,947 | 11,197 |
| Ranlo | 117 | 1.24% | 4,815 | 4,520 |
| Swepsonville | 118 | 1.24% | 2,614 | 2,451 |
| Mocksville | 119 | 1.24% | 6,301 | 5,914 |
| Cramerton | 120 | 1.23% | 5,673 | 5,325 |
| Bessemer City | 121 | 1.22% | 5,800 | 5,450 |
| Bermuda Run | 122 | 1.19% | 3,329 | 3,134 |
| Murphy | 123 | 1.18% | 1,713 | 1,613 |
| Banner Elk | 124 | 1.18% | 1,200 | 1,129 |
| Wingate | 125 | 1.15% | 4,569 | 4,308 |
| Cherryville | 126 | 1.14% | 6,458 | 6,090 |
| Pinehurst | 127 | 1.11% | 18,707 | 17,681 |
| Carolina Beach | 128 | 1.11% | 6,940 | 6,559 |
| Weaverville | 129 | 1.1% | 4,852 | 4,584 |
| Pinebluff | 130 | 1.1% | 1,557 | 1,471 |
| Greenville | 131 | 1.1% | 96,184 | 90,953 |
| Mooresville | 132 | 1.1% | 53,464 | 50,562 |
| Waynesville | 133 | 1.08% | 10,825 | 10,244 |
| Cary | 134 | 1.08% | 184,623 | 174,803 |
| Franklin | 135 | 1.03% | 4,407 | 4,181 |
| Biltmore Forest | 136 | 1.03% | 1,477 | 1,400 |
| Siler City | 137 | 1.01% | 8,169 | 7,759 |
| Maiden | 138 | 1.01% | 3,893 | 3,697 |
| Troy | 139 | 1.01% | 3,008 | 2,855 |
| Highlands | 140 | 0.98% | 1,130 | 1,074 |
| Sylva | 141 | 0.97% | 2,720 | 2,587 |
| Stanley | 142 | 0.96% | 4,187 | 3,985 |
| Morehead City | 143 | 0.95% | 10,058 | 9,583 |
| Emerald Isle | 144 | 0.95% | 4,039 | 3,846 |
| Greensboro | 145 | 0.94% | 310,258 | 295,873 |
| Mills River | 146 | 0.93% | 7,495 | 7,148 |
| Dortches | 147 | 0.92% | 1,093 | 1,042 |
| Red Oak | 148 | 0.92% | 3,512 | 3,351 |
| Long View | 149 | 0.91% | 5,337 | 5,095 |
| Shelby | 150 | 0.9% | 22,984 | 21,953 |
| Dunn | 151 | 0.9% | 8,833 | 8,438 |
| Conover | 152 | 0.9% | 8,839 | 8,442 |
| Winterville | 153 | 0.89% | 10,996 | 10,510 |
| China Grove | 154 | 0.89% | 4,651 | 4,446 |
| Newport | 155 | 0.89% | 4,541 | 4,341 |
| Rockwell | 156 | 0.88% | 2,411 | 2,305 |
| Tryon | 157 | 0.87% | 1,625 | 1,553 |
| Granite Quarry | 158 | 0.87% | 3,134 | 2,996 |
| Beulaville | 159 | 0.86% | 1,170 | 1,117 |
| Landis | 160 | 0.86% | 3,871 | 3,703 |
| Salisbury | 161 | 0.85% | 36,891 | 35,328 |
| Nashville | 162 | 0.84% | 5,899 | 5,652 |
| Fletcher | 163 | 0.84% | 8,320 | 7,975 |
| Pine Knoll Shores | 164 | 0.84% | 1,447 | 1,385 |
| Summerfield | 165 | 0.83% | 11,427 | 10,956 |
| Wallace | 166 | 0.82% | 3,560 | 3,412 |
| Oak Ridge | 167 | 0.81% | 7,964 | 7,641 |
| Spring Hope | 168 | 0.81% | 1,369 | 1,313 |
| High Point | 169 | 0.81% | 119,559 | 114,767 |
| Flat Rock | 170 | 0.81% | 3,631 | 3,485 |
| Franklinville | 171 | 0.8% | 1,255 | 1,205 |
| Wentworth | 172 | 0.8% | 2,770 | 2,660 |
| East Spencer | 173 | 0.8% | 1,638 | 1,571 |
| Claremont | 174 | 0.8% | 1,767 | 1,695 |
| Sparta | 175 | 0.79% | 1,909 | 1,831 |
| Stokesdale | 176 | 0.79% | 6,159 | 5,917 |
| Laurel Park | 177 | 0.78% | 2,337 | 2,247 |
| Atlantic Beach | 178 | 0.77% | 1,432 | 1,377 |
| Hickory | 179 | 0.77% | 45,429 | 43,688 |
| Elon | 180 | 0.77% | 11,369 | 10,932 |
| Newton | 181 | 0.77% | 13,675 | 13,153 |
| Red Springs | 182 | 0.75% | 3,205 | 3,085 |
| Stoneville | 183 | 0.74% | 1,361 | 1,309 |
| Pleasant Garden | 184 | 0.74% | 5,189 | 4,997 |
| Rose Hill | 185 | 0.71% | 1,417 | 1,366 |
| Cedar Point | 186 | 0.71% | 1,846 | 1,779 |
| Hendersonville | 187 | 0.71% | 15,767 | 15,210 |
| Spencer | 188 | 0.7% | 3,430 | 3,307 |
| Jamestown | 189 | 0.69% | 3,799 | 3,668 |
| Boone | 190 | 0.68% | 20,217 | 19,532 |
| Sharpsburg | 191 | 0.68% | 1,786 | 1,724 |
| Grifton | 192 | 0.68% | 2,531 | 2,445 |
| Hertford | 193 | 0.65% | 2,005 | 1,940 |
| Warsaw | 194 | 0.64% | 2,821 | 2,730 |
| Winston-Salem | 195 | 0.64% | 257,403 | 249,231 |
| Creedmoor | 196 | 0.63% | 5,081 | 4,918 |
| Biscoe | 197 | 0.63% | 1,907 | 1,847 |
| Asheboro | 198 | 0.61% | 28,099 | 27,243 |
| Cape Carteret | 199 | 0.61% | 2,302 | 2,230 |
| Tarboro | 200 | 0.61% | 11,021 | 10,684 |
| Mayodan | 201 | 0.61% | 2,493 | 2,415 |
| Ayden | 202 | 0.6% | 5,221 | 5,065 |
| Woodfin | 203 | 0.55% | 8,203 | 7,978 |
| Burgaw | 204 | 0.55% | 3,846 | 3,738 |
| Oxford | 205 | 0.53% | 9,020 | 8,777 |
| Mount Olive | 206 | 0.53% | 4,522 | 4,399 |
| Trinity | 207 | 0.53% | 7,228 | 7,035 |
| Madison | 208 | 0.51% | 2,187 | 2,131 |
| Elizabeth City | 209 | 0.5% | 19,124 | 18,644 |
| Butner | 210 | 0.5% | 8,175 | 7,967 |
| Bethel | 211 | 0.5% | 1,414 | 1,376 |
| Archdale | 212 | 0.49% | 12,207 | 11,906 |
| Lexington | 213 | 0.49% | 20,001 | 19,513 |
| Liberty | 214 | 0.48% | 2,728 | 2,661 |
| Brevard | 215 | 0.48% | 8,011 | 7,819 |
| Lucama | 216 | 0.47% | 1,065 | 1,040 |
| Farmville | 217 | 0.46% | 4,568 | 4,460 |
| Spindale | 218 | 0.46% | 4,187 | 4,089 |
| Walnut Creek | 219 | 0.45% | 1,108 | 1,081 |
| Randleman | 220 | 0.45% | 4,713 | 4,608 |
| West Jefferson | 221 | 0.45% | 1,347 | 1,317 |
| Morganton | 222 | 0.44% | 17,903 | 17,510 |
| Roxboro | 223 | 0.43% | 8,325 | 8,145 |
| Thomasville | 224 | 0.43% | 27,724 | 27,126 |
| Pembroke | 225 | 0.42% | 2,876 | 2,813 |
| Connelly Springs | 226 | 0.39% | 1,551 | 1,521 |
| Hope Mills | 227 | 0.39% | 18,172 | 17,821 |
| Stedman | 228 | 0.38% | 1,308 | 1,280 |
| Rutherfordton | 229 | 0.38% | 3,732 | 3,661 |
| Black Mountain | 230 | 0.37% | 8,604 | 8,441 |
| Lake Lure | 231 | 0.36% | 1,395 | 1,367 |
| Eastover | 232 | 0.35% | 3,723 | 3,658 |
| Roseboro | 233 | 0.34% | 1,174 | 1,153 |
| Drexel | 234 | 0.34% | 1,783 | 1,752 |
| St. Pauls | 235 | 0.34% | 2,088 | 2,051 |
| Boonville | 236 | 0.33% | 1,219 | 1,199 |
| Maxton | 237 | 0.33% | 2,143 | 2,108 |
| Princeville | 238 | 0.31% | 1,290 | 1,270 |
| Jefferson | 239 | 0.3% | 1,653 | 1,628 |
| Jonesville | 240 | 0.3% | 2,341 | 2,306 |
| Hillsborough | 241 | 0.3% | 9,802 | 9,657 |
| Montreat | 242 | 0.29% | 1,047 | 1,032 |
| Maggie Valley | 243 | 0.29% | 1,747 | 1,719 |
| Fairmont | 244 | 0.27% | 2,218 | 2,186 |
| Kill Devil Hills | 245 | 0.26% | 7,762 | 7,661 |
| Mount Gilead | 246 | 0.25% | 1,188 | 1,171 |
| Walnut Cove | 247 | 0.25% | 1,607 | 1,585 |
| Fremont | 248 | 0.25% | 1,210 | 1,192 |
| Yadkinville | 249 | 0.23% | 3,033 | 2,998 |
| Southern Shores | 250 | 0.19% | 3,133 | 3,102 |
| Lillington | 251 | 0.19% | 4,857 | 4,811 |
| Ramseur | 252 | 0.17% | 1,793 | 1,775 |
| Asheville | 253 | 0.17% | 95,151 | 94,353 |
| Rutherford College | 254 | 0.16% | 1,230 | 1,220 |
| Sawmills | 255 | 0.16% | 5,067 | 5,026 |
| Clyde | 256 | 0.15% | 1,379 | 1,367 |
| Edenton | 257 | 0.13% | 4,498 | 4,465 |
| Valdese | 258 | 0.13% | 4,719 | 4,689 |
| Boiling Springs | 259 | 0.13% | 4,765 | 4,732 |
| Burnsville | 260 | 0.12% | 1,628 | 1,616 |
| Raeford | 261 | 0.11% | 4,583 | 4,556 |
| Goldsboro | 262 | 0.1% | 34,662 | 34,495 |
| Forest City | 263 | 0.09% | 7,404 | 7,367 |
| Reidsville | 264 | 0.09% | 14,659 | 14,593 |
| Elm City | 265 | 0.08% | 1,224 | 1,217 |
| Rocky Mount | 266 | 0.07% | 54,580 | 54,382 |
| Glen Alpine | 267 | 0.07% | 1,533 | 1,526 |
| Wilson | 268 | 0.06% | 48,608 | 48,461 |
| Laurinburg | 269 | 0.05% | 15,137 | 15,100 |
| Gamewell | 270 | 0.03% | 3,700 | 3,695 |
| Granite Falls | 271 | 0.02% | 4,943 | 4,935 |
| Hildebran | 272 | 0% | 1,680 | 1,677 |
| Lumberton | 273 | 0% | 18,882 | 18,882 |
| Canton | 274 | -0.02% | 4,421 | 4,423 |
| Eden | 275 | -0.03% | 15,394 | 15,416 |
| Bladenboro | 276 | -0.06% | 1,641 | 1,646 |
| Manteo | 277 | -0.06% | 1,594 | 1,597 |
| Dobson | 278 | -0.07% | 1,468 | 1,470 |
| Belhaven | 279 | -0.07% | 1,405 | 1,409 |
| Spruce Pine | 280 | -0.09% | 2,190 | 2,197 |
| Lenoir | 281 | -0.1% | 18,262 | 18,350 |
| Hudson | 282 | -0.11% | 3,767 | 3,786 |
| Cajah's Mountain | 283 | -0.11% | 2,696 | 2,710 |
| Elizabethtown | 284 | -0.12% | 3,286 | 3,306 |
| Snow Hill | 285 | -0.13% | 1,574 | 1,583 |
| Kitty Hawk | 286 | -0.14% | 3,686 | 3,709 |
| River Bend | 287 | -0.14% | 2,878 | 2,895 |
| Pilot Mountain | 288 | -0.14% | 1,428 | 1,436 |
| Trent Woods | 289 | -0.15% | 4,041 | 4,070 |
| Clinton | 290 | -0.16% | 8,304 | 8,367 |
| Fayetteville | 291 | -0.17% | 209,146 | 210,894 |
| Elkin | 292 | -0.17% | 4,087 | 4,120 |
| North Wilkesboro | 293 | -0.2% | 4,403 | 4,448 |
| Mount Airy | 294 | -0.21% | 10,561 | 10,669 |
| Carrboro | 295 | -0.24% | 21,028 | 21,281 |
| Pinetops | 296 | -0.25% | 1,193 | 1,208 |
| Spring Lake | 297 | -0.26% | 11,500 | 11,650 |
| Tabor City | 298 | -0.26% | 3,821 | 3,869 |
| Taylorsville | 299 | -0.26% | 2,288 | 2,317 |
| Wadesboro | 300 | -0.28% | 4,951 | 5,018 |
| Kinston | 301 | -0.31% | 19,458 | 19,763 |
| Whiteville | 302 | -0.34% | 4,672 | 4,749 |
| Kure Beach | 303 | -0.37% | 2,146 | 2,183 |
| Washington | 304 | -0.38% | 9,701 | 9,886 |
| Wilkesboro | 305 | -0.39% | 3,606 | 3,674 |
| Henderson | 306 | -0.43% | 14,743 | 15,060 |
| Chadbourn | 307 | -0.46% | 1,521 | 1,556 |
| Hamlet | 308 | -0.56% | 5,855 | 6,020 |
| Wrightsville Beach | 309 | -0.58% | 2,397 | 2,466 |
| Marion | 310 | -0.58% | 7,490 | 7,707 |
| Bryson City | 311 | -0.59% | 1,513 | 1,558 |
| Nags Head | 312 | -0.61% | 3,087 | 3,179 |
| Robersonville | 313 | -0.73% | 1,220 | 1,265 |
| Havelock | 314 | -0.74% | 17,279 | 17,916 |
| Blowing Rock | 315 | -0.75% | 1,326 | 1,373 |
| Williamston | 316 | -0.79% | 5,026 | 5,224 |
| Jacksonville | 317 | -0.86% | 70,232 | 73,270 |
| Scotland Neck | 318 | -0.88% | 1,578 | 1,645 |
| Enfield | 319 | -0.89% | 1,775 | 1,854 |
| Plymouth | 320 | -0.94% | 3,160 | 3,310 |
| Yanceyville | 321 | -0.99% | 1,793 | 1,882 |
| Roanoke Rapids | 322 | -1.07% | 14,417 | 15,195 |
| Ahoskie | 323 | -1.14% | 4,612 | 4,874 |
| Rockingham | 324 | -1.16% | 8,700 | 9,209 |
| Windsor | 325 | -1.19% | 3,229 | 3,424 |
| Weldon | 326 | -1.24% | 1,355 | 1,440 |
| Lake Waccamaw | 327 | -1.3% | 1,211 | 1,290 |
| Badin | 328 | -2.08% | 1,832 | 2,024 |
| Bayboro | 329 | -2.39% | 1,101 | 1,234 |
| Murfreesboro | 330 | -3.12% | 2,206 | 2,559 |
North Carolina's cities with over 1,000 residents show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2025. Wendell leads with 10.17% annualized growth, followed by Zebulon (8.24%) and Calabash (8.03%). The largest population centers are Charlotte (960,608), Raleigh (508,316), and Greensboro (310,258). Of the 330 cities over 1,000 population, 273 are growing while 57 experienced population decline. Overall, cities averaged 1.13% annualized growth, with total urban population growing by 7.86% annually.