330 cities
| City | Rank | Annual Change ↓ | 2026 Pop. | 2020 Pop. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wendell | 1 | 9.24% | 20,272 | 9,991 |
| Zebulon | 2 | 7.62% | 12,237 | 7,041 |
| Calabash | 3 | 7.47% | 3,454 | 2,017 |
| Angier | 4 | 7.23% | 9,575 | 5,702 |
| Leland | 5 | 6.31% | 39,095 | 25,163 |
| Belville | 6 | 6.28% | 3,691 | 2,382 |
| Holly Ridge | 7 | 6.2% | 6,527 | 4,243 |
| Fuquay | 8 | 5.97% | 52,197 | 34,556 |
| Navassa | 9 | 5.28% | 1,973 | 1,382 |
| Surf City | 10 | 5.11% | 5,495 | 3,893 |
| Garner | 11 | 4.8% | 43,311 | 31,412 |
| Shallotte | 12 | 4.62% | 5,661 | 4,161 |
| Locust | 13 | 4.56% | 6,564 | 4,848 |
| Rolesville | 14 | 4.32% | 12,923 | 9,716 |
| Polkton | 15 | 4.02% | 2,923 | 2,247 |
| Carolina Shores | 16 | 3.94% | 5,911 | 4,567 |
| Clayton | 17 | 3.82% | 34,249 | 26,698 |
| Four Oaks | 18 | 3.77% | 2,890 | 2,263 |
| Holly Springs | 19 | 3.52% | 52,224 | 41,574 |
| Apex | 20 | 3.42% | 81,359 | 65,212 |
| Monroe | 21 | 3.24% | 42,738 | 34,685 |
| Youngsville | 22 | 3.06% | 2,524 | 2,076 |
| Archer Lodge | 23 | 3.04% | 5,867 | 4,832 |
| Wake Forest | 24 | 3.01% | 60,284 | 49,723 |
| Wilson's Mills | 25 | 3% | 3,092 | 2,554 |
| Boiling Spring Lakes | 26 | 2.99% | 7,154 | 5,906 |
| Princeton | 27 | 2.96% | 1,599 | 1,322 |
| Franklinton | 28 | 2.96% | 2,996 | 2,483 |
| Pine Level | 29 | 2.94% | 2,488 | 2,064 |
| Selma | 30 | 2.9% | 7,660 | 6,363 |
| Benson | 31 | 2.85% | 4,800 | 4,002 |
| Mebane | 32 | 2.84% | 21,862 | 18,238 |
| La Grange | 33 | 2.79% | 3,090 | 2,585 |
| Smithfield | 34 | 2.72% | 13,522 | 11,373 |
| Graham | 35 | 2.71% | 20,386 | 17,160 |
| Chapel Hill | 36 | 2.66% | 67,533 | 57,017 |
| Kenly | 37 | 2.65% | 1,779 | 1,503 |
| Knightdale | 38 | 2.65% | 23,016 | 19,454 |
| St. James | 39 | 2.56% | 7,698 | 6,549 |
| Waxhaw | 40 | 2.52% | 24,377 | 20,780 |
| Troutman | 41 | 2.47% | 4,447 | 3,808 |
| Oak Island | 42 | 2.45% | 9,789 | 8,387 |
| Aberdeen | 43 | 2.42% | 10,047 | 8,625 |
| Lincolnton | 44 | 2.41% | 12,962 | 11,135 |
| Statesville | 45 | 2.38% | 33,240 | 28,599 |
| Swansboro | 46 | 2.37% | 4,367 | 3,760 |
| Davidson | 47 | 2.15% | 16,990 | 14,847 |
| Louisburg | 48 | 2.12% | 3,570 | 3,129 |
| Beaufort | 49 | 2.1% | 5,104 | 4,476 |
| Kannapolis | 50 | 2.08% | 63,097 | 55,369 |
| Pittsboro | 51 | 2.06% | 5,198 | 4,571 |
| New Bern | 52 | 2.06% | 35,658 | 31,338 |
| Sanford | 53 | 2.04% | 34,341 | 30,231 |
| Cornelius | 54 | 2.03% | 35,787 | 31,523 |
| Marvin | 55 | 2.01% | 7,270 | 6,415 |
| Huntersville | 56 | 2% | 69,826 | 61,609 |
| Indian Trail | 57 | 1.99% | 45,648 | 40,304 |
| Mineral Springs | 58 | 1.99% | 3,595 | 3,178 |
| Wesley Chapel | 59 | 1.97% | 9,877 | 8,730 |
| Pineville | 60 | 1.97% | 12,031 | 10,638 |
| Stallings | 61 | 1.96% | 18,322 | 16,207 |
| Unionville | 62 | 1.96% | 7,548 | 6,677 |
| Mint Hill | 63 | 1.95% | 29,971 | 26,532 |
| Weddington | 64 | 1.95% | 14,962 | 13,248 |
| Fairview | 65 | 1.95% | 3,925 | 3,475 |
| Southport | 66 | 1.94% | 4,512 | 3,999 |
| Matthews | 67 | 1.93% | 33,312 | 29,520 |
| Sunset Beach | 68 | 1.93% | 4,699 | 4,164 |
| Morrisville | 69 | 1.92% | 33,906 | 30,072 |
| Lake Park | 70 | 1.92% | 3,721 | 3,303 |
| Hemby Bridge | 71 | 1.91% | 1,817 | 1,616 |
| Foxfire | 72 | 1.89% | 1,455 | 1,293 |
| Whispering Pines | 73 | 1.88% | 5,624 | 5,000 |
| Southern Pines | 74 | 1.88% | 17,637 | 15,686 |
| Kernersville | 75 | 1.86% | 29,850 | 26,579 |
| Robbins | 76 | 1.85% | 1,318 | 1,174 |
| Wilmington | 77 | 1.84% | 129,982 | 115,887 |
| Coats | 78 | 1.82% | 2,403 | 2,145 |
| Carthage | 79 | 1.8% | 3,109 | 2,779 |
| Charlotte | 80 | 1.78% | 977,740 | 874,948 |
| Erwin | 81 | 1.74% | 5,036 | 4,523 |
| King | 82 | 1.73% | 8,037 | 7,218 |
| North Topsail Beach | 83 | 1.73% | 1,118 | 1,007 |
| Harrisburg | 84 | 1.72% | 21,046 | 18,913 |
| Midland | 85 | 1.68% | 5,199 | 4,682 |
| Raleigh | 86 | 1.67% | 516,807 | 465,861 |
| Stanfield | 87 | 1.67% | 1,767 | 1,593 |
| Durham | 88 | 1.64% | 311,965 | 281,679 |
| Concord | 89 | 1.64% | 116,136 | 104,913 |
| Oakboro | 90 | 1.6% | 2,343 | 2,123 |
| Broadway | 91 | 1.59% | 1,405 | 1,275 |
| Marshville | 92 | 1.56% | 2,796 | 2,538 |
| Burlington | 93 | 1.53% | 63,274 | 57,547 |
| Richlands | 94 | 1.53% | 2,521 | 2,296 |
| Norwood | 95 | 1.52% | 2,598 | 2,364 |
| Green Level | 96 | 1.52% | 3,466 | 3,153 |
| Mars Hill | 97 | 1.52% | 2,276 | 2,072 |
| Gibsonville | 98 | 1.52% | 10,043 | 9,145 |
| Mount Pleasant | 99 | 1.5% | 1,830 | 1,668 |
| Midway | 100 | 1.46% | 5,202 | 4,754 |
| Wallburg | 101 | 1.45% | 3,350 | 3,064 |
| Gastonia | 102 | 1.43% | 88,022 | 80,561 |
| Tobaccoville | 103 | 1.4% | 2,818 | 2,584 |
| Haw River | 104 | 1.4% | 2,459 | 2,255 |
| Rural Hall | 105 | 1.38% | 3,661 | 3,364 |
| Denton | 106 | 1.37% | 1,623 | 1,493 |
| Lewisville | 107 | 1.37% | 14,597 | 13,415 |
| Clemmons | 108 | 1.36% | 23,090 | 21,233 |
| Belmont | 109 | 1.35% | 16,483 | 15,165 |
| Albemarle | 110 | 1.34% | 17,816 | 16,399 |
| Walkertown | 111 | 1.31% | 6,187 | 5,706 |
| Andrews | 112 | 1.29% | 1,808 | 1,669 |
| Lowell | 113 | 1.28% | 3,963 | 3,663 |
| Mount Holly | 114 | 1.27% | 19,202 | 17,764 |
| Swepsonville | 115 | 1.26% | 2,647 | 2,451 |
| Dallas | 116 | 1.26% | 6,430 | 5,949 |
| Kings Mountain | 117 | 1.26% | 12,097 | 11,197 |
| Mocksville | 118 | 1.24% | 6,379 | 5,914 |
| Cramerton | 119 | 1.23% | 5,743 | 5,325 |
| Ranlo | 120 | 1.23% | 4,874 | 4,520 |
| Bessemer City | 121 | 1.21% | 5,870 | 5,450 |
| Bermuda Run | 122 | 1.17% | 3,368 | 3,134 |
| Murphy | 123 | 1.17% | 1,733 | 1,613 |
| Banner Elk | 124 | 1.17% | 1,214 | 1,129 |
| Cherryville | 125 | 1.15% | 6,532 | 6,090 |
| Wingate | 126 | 1.14% | 4,621 | 4,308 |
| Weaverville | 127 | 1.11% | 4,906 | 4,584 |
| Pinehurst | 128 | 1.1% | 18,912 | 17,681 |
| Carolina Beach | 129 | 1.1% | 7,016 | 6,559 |
| Pinebluff | 130 | 1.09% | 1,574 | 1,471 |
| Greenville | 131 | 1.09% | 97,230 | 90,953 |
| Mooresville | 132 | 1.09% | 54,045 | 50,562 |
| Biltmore Forest | 133 | 1.08% | 1,493 | 1,400 |
| Waynesville | 134 | 1.07% | 10,941 | 10,244 |
| Cary | 135 | 1.06% | 186,587 | 174,803 |
| Troy | 136 | 1.03% | 3,039 | 2,855 |
| Franklin | 137 | 1.02% | 4,452 | 4,181 |
| Siler City | 138 | 1% | 8,251 | 7,759 |
| Maiden | 139 | 1% | 3,932 | 3,697 |
| Sylva | 140 | 0.99% | 2,747 | 2,587 |
| Stanley | 141 | 0.98% | 4,228 | 3,985 |
| Highlands | 142 | 0.97% | 1,141 | 1,074 |
| Emerald Isle | 143 | 0.97% | 4,078 | 3,846 |
| Morehead City | 144 | 0.94% | 10,153 | 9,583 |
| Beulaville | 145 | 0.94% | 1,181 | 1,117 |
| Mills River | 146 | 0.93% | 7,565 | 7,148 |
| Greensboro | 147 | 0.93% | 313,135 | 295,873 |
| Tryon | 148 | 0.92% | 1,640 | 1,553 |
| Long View | 149 | 0.92% | 5,386 | 5,095 |
| Dortches | 150 | 0.91% | 1,103 | 1,042 |
| Red Oak | 151 | 0.91% | 3,544 | 3,351 |
| Conover | 152 | 0.91% | 8,919 | 8,442 |
| Pine Knoll Shores | 153 | 0.9% | 1,460 | 1,385 |
| Shelby | 154 | 0.9% | 23,190 | 21,953 |
| Dunn | 155 | 0.89% | 8,912 | 8,438 |
| Granite Quarry | 156 | 0.89% | 3,162 | 2,996 |
| Winterville | 157 | 0.88% | 11,093 | 10,510 |
| China Grove | 158 | 0.88% | 4,692 | 4,446 |
| Newport | 159 | 0.88% | 4,581 | 4,341 |
| Landis | 160 | 0.88% | 3,905 | 3,703 |
| Rockwell | 161 | 0.87% | 2,432 | 2,305 |
| East Spencer | 162 | 0.85% | 1,652 | 1,571 |
| Claremont | 163 | 0.85% | 1,782 | 1,695 |
| Salisbury | 164 | 0.85% | 37,204 | 35,328 |
| Nashville | 165 | 0.85% | 5,949 | 5,652 |
| Wallace | 166 | 0.84% | 3,590 | 3,412 |
| Sparta | 167 | 0.84% | 1,925 | 1,831 |
| Fletcher | 168 | 0.83% | 8,389 | 7,975 |
| Summerfield | 169 | 0.82% | 11,521 | 10,956 |
| Oak Ridge | 170 | 0.82% | 8,029 | 7,641 |
| Stoneville | 171 | 0.81% | 1,372 | 1,309 |
| Spring Hope | 172 | 0.8% | 1,380 | 1,313 |
| High Point | 173 | 0.8% | 120,518 | 114,767 |
| Flat Rock | 174 | 0.8% | 3,660 | 3,485 |
| Franklinville | 175 | 0.8% | 1,265 | 1,205 |
| Stokesdale | 176 | 0.8% | 6,208 | 5,917 |
| Wentworth | 177 | 0.79% | 2,792 | 2,660 |
| Elon | 178 | 0.77% | 11,457 | 10,932 |
| Laurel Park | 179 | 0.77% | 2,355 | 2,247 |
| Atlantic Beach | 180 | 0.77% | 1,443 | 1,377 |
| Newton | 181 | 0.77% | 13,780 | 13,153 |
| Hickory | 182 | 0.77% | 45,777 | 43,688 |
| Cedar Point | 183 | 0.76% | 1,860 | 1,779 |
| Pleasant Garden | 184 | 0.75% | 5,228 | 4,997 |
| Red Springs | 185 | 0.75% | 3,229 | 3,085 |
| Spencer | 186 | 0.73% | 3,455 | 3,307 |
| Sharpsburg | 187 | 0.73% | 1,799 | 1,724 |
| Hendersonville | 188 | 0.71% | 15,879 | 15,210 |
| Rose Hill | 189 | 0.71% | 1,427 | 1,366 |
| Jamestown | 190 | 0.68% | 3,825 | 3,668 |
| Boone | 191 | 0.68% | 20,354 | 19,532 |
| Grifton | 192 | 0.67% | 2,548 | 2,445 |
| Cape Carteret | 193 | 0.65% | 2,317 | 2,230 |
| Creedmoor | 194 | 0.65% | 5,114 | 4,918 |
| Hertford | 195 | 0.65% | 2,018 | 1,940 |
| Mayodan | 196 | 0.64% | 2,509 | 2,415 |
| Warsaw | 197 | 0.64% | 2,839 | 2,730 |
| Winston-Salem | 198 | 0.64% | 259,038 | 249,231 |
| Biscoe | 199 | 0.63% | 1,919 | 1,847 |
| Tarboro | 200 | 0.62% | 11,089 | 10,684 |
| Asheboro | 201 | 0.61% | 28,270 | 27,243 |
| Ayden | 202 | 0.59% | 5,252 | 5,065 |
| Burgaw | 203 | 0.57% | 3,868 | 3,738 |
| Bethel | 204 | 0.57% | 1,422 | 1,376 |
| Mount Olive | 205 | 0.55% | 4,547 | 4,399 |
| Woodfin | 206 | 0.55% | 8,248 | 7,978 |
| Oxford | 207 | 0.54% | 9,069 | 8,777 |
| Walnut Creek | 208 | 0.54% | 1,114 | 1,081 |
| Trinity | 209 | 0.54% | 7,267 | 7,035 |
| Butner | 210 | 0.51% | 8,217 | 7,967 |
| Liberty | 211 | 0.51% | 2,742 | 2,661 |
| Madison | 212 | 0.5% | 2,198 | 2,131 |
| Elizabeth City | 213 | 0.5% | 19,220 | 18,644 |
| Archdale | 214 | 0.49% | 12,267 | 11,906 |
| Lexington | 215 | 0.49% | 20,099 | 19,513 |
| Brevard | 216 | 0.49% | 8,050 | 7,819 |
| Farmville | 217 | 0.48% | 4,590 | 4,460 |
| Spindale | 218 | 0.48% | 4,207 | 4,089 |
| Lucama | 219 | 0.47% | 1,070 | 1,040 |
| Stedman | 220 | 0.46% | 1,314 | 1,280 |
| Pembroke | 221 | 0.45% | 2,889 | 2,813 |
| Randleman | 222 | 0.45% | 4,734 | 4,608 |
| West Jefferson | 223 | 0.45% | 1,353 | 1,317 |
| Morganton | 224 | 0.44% | 17,982 | 17,510 |
| Thomasville | 225 | 0.43% | 27,844 | 27,126 |
| Roxboro | 226 | 0.43% | 8,361 | 8,145 |
| Lake Lure | 227 | 0.43% | 1,401 | 1,367 |
| Connelly Springs | 228 | 0.39% | 1,557 | 1,521 |
| Hope Mills | 229 | 0.39% | 18,242 | 17,821 |
| Black Mountain | 230 | 0.38% | 8,637 | 8,441 |
| St. Pauls | 231 | 0.38% | 2,096 | 2,051 |
| Rutherfordton | 232 | 0.38% | 3,746 | 3,661 |
| Eastover | 233 | 0.35% | 3,736 | 3,658 |
| Maggie Valley | 234 | 0.34% | 1,753 | 1,719 |
| Roseboro | 235 | 0.34% | 1,178 | 1,153 |
| Mount Gilead | 236 | 0.34% | 1,192 | 1,171 |
| Drexel | 237 | 0.34% | 1,789 | 1,752 |
| Fremont | 238 | 0.33% | 1,214 | 1,192 |
| Boonville | 239 | 0.33% | 1,223 | 1,199 |
| Maxton | 240 | 0.33% | 2,150 | 2,108 |
| Fairmont | 241 | 0.32% | 2,225 | 2,186 |
| Walnut Cove | 242 | 0.31% | 1,612 | 1,585 |
| Princeville | 243 | 0.31% | 1,294 | 1,270 |
| Jefferson | 244 | 0.3% | 1,658 | 1,628 |
| Jonesville | 245 | 0.3% | 2,348 | 2,306 |
| Hillsborough | 246 | 0.3% | 9,831 | 9,657 |
| Montreat | 247 | 0.29% | 1,050 | 1,032 |
| Kill Devil Hills | 248 | 0.26% | 7,782 | 7,661 |
| Yadkinville | 249 | 0.23% | 3,040 | 2,998 |
| Ramseur | 250 | 0.22% | 1,797 | 1,775 |
| Clyde | 251 | 0.22% | 1,382 | 1,367 |
| Southern Shores | 252 | 0.19% | 3,139 | 3,102 |
| Lillington | 253 | 0.19% | 4,866 | 4,811 |
| Burnsville | 254 | 0.18% | 1,631 | 1,616 |
| Asheville | 255 | 0.17% | 95,311 | 94,353 |
| Elm City | 256 | 0.16% | 1,226 | 1,217 |
| Rutherford College | 257 | 0.16% | 1,232 | 1,220 |
| Sawmills | 258 | 0.16% | 5,075 | 5,026 |
| Edenton | 259 | 0.16% | 4,505 | 4,465 |
| Boiling Springs | 260 | 0.15% | 4,772 | 4,732 |
| Raeford | 261 | 0.13% | 4,589 | 4,556 |
| Glen Alpine | 262 | 0.13% | 1,535 | 1,526 |
| Valdese | 263 | 0.13% | 4,725 | 4,689 |
| Forest City | 264 | 0.11% | 7,412 | 7,367 |
| Goldsboro | 265 | 0.1% | 34,696 | 34,495 |
| Reidsville | 266 | 0.09% | 14,672 | 14,593 |
| Rocky Mount | 267 | 0.07% | 54,620 | 54,382 |
| Wilson | 268 | 0.06% | 48,638 | 48,461 |
| Hildebran | 269 | 0.06% | 1,681 | 1,677 |
| Laurinburg | 270 | 0.05% | 15,145 | 15,100 |
| Granite Falls | 271 | 0.04% | 4,945 | 4,935 |
| Gamewell | 272 | 0.03% | 3,701 | 3,695 |
| Canton | 273 | 0% | 4,421 | 4,423 |
| Dobson | 274 | 0% | 1,468 | 1,470 |
| Lumberton | 275 | 0% | 18,882 | 18,882 |
| Manteo | 276 | 0% | 1,594 | 1,597 |
| Eden | 277 | -0.03% | 15,390 | 15,416 |
| Spruce Pine | 278 | -0.05% | 2,189 | 2,197 |
| Bladenboro | 279 | -0.06% | 1,640 | 1,646 |
| Pilot Mountain | 280 | -0.07% | 1,427 | 1,436 |
| Belhaven | 281 | -0.07% | 1,404 | 1,409 |
| Lenoir | 282 | -0.09% | 18,245 | 18,350 |
| River Bend | 283 | -0.1% | 2,875 | 2,895 |
| Hudson | 284 | -0.11% | 3,763 | 3,786 |
| Kitty Hawk | 285 | -0.11% | 3,682 | 3,709 |
| Cajah's Mountain | 286 | -0.11% | 2,693 | 2,710 |
| Elizabethtown | 287 | -0.12% | 3,282 | 3,306 |
| Snow Hill | 288 | -0.13% | 1,572 | 1,583 |
| Clinton | 289 | -0.14% | 8,292 | 8,367 |
| Elkin | 290 | -0.15% | 4,081 | 4,120 |
| Trent Woods | 291 | -0.15% | 4,035 | 4,070 |
| Fayetteville | 292 | -0.17% | 208,797 | 210,894 |
| Mount Airy | 293 | -0.2% | 10,540 | 10,669 |
| North Wilkesboro | 294 | -0.2% | 4,394 | 4,448 |
| Tabor City | 295 | -0.24% | 3,812 | 3,869 |
| Carrboro | 296 | -0.24% | 20,978 | 21,281 |
| Pinetops | 297 | -0.25% | 1,190 | 1,208 |
| Spring Lake | 298 | -0.26% | 11,470 | 11,650 |
| Taylorsville | 299 | -0.26% | 2,282 | 2,317 |
| Wadesboro | 300 | -0.26% | 4,938 | 5,018 |
| Kinston | 301 | -0.31% | 19,397 | 19,763 |
| Whiteville | 302 | -0.32% | 4,657 | 4,749 |
| Kure Beach | 303 | -0.33% | 2,139 | 2,183 |
| Wilkesboro | 304 | -0.36% | 3,593 | 3,674 |
| Washington | 305 | -0.38% | 9,664 | 9,886 |
| Henderson | 306 | -0.43% | 14,680 | 15,060 |
| Chadbourn | 307 | -0.46% | 1,514 | 1,556 |
| Hamlet | 308 | -0.56% | 5,822 | 6,020 |
| Marion | 309 | -0.57% | 7,447 | 7,707 |
| Nags Head | 310 | -0.58% | 3,069 | 3,179 |
| Wrightsville Beach | 311 | -0.58% | 2,383 | 2,466 |
| Bryson City | 312 | -0.59% | 1,504 | 1,558 |
| Blowing Rock | 313 | -0.68% | 1,317 | 1,373 |
| Havelock | 314 | -0.73% | 17,152 | 17,916 |
| Robersonville | 315 | -0.74% | 1,211 | 1,265 |
| Williamston | 316 | -0.78% | 4,987 | 5,224 |
| Scotland Neck | 317 | -0.82% | 1,565 | 1,645 |
| Jacksonville | 318 | -0.86% | 69,625 | 73,270 |
| Enfield | 319 | -0.9% | 1,759 | 1,854 |
| Plymouth | 320 | -0.95% | 3,130 | 3,310 |
| Yanceyville | 321 | -1% | 1,775 | 1,882 |
| Roanoke Rapids | 322 | -1.08% | 14,262 | 15,195 |
| Ahoskie | 323 | -1.13% | 4,560 | 4,874 |
| Rockingham | 324 | -1.17% | 8,598 | 9,209 |
| Windsor | 325 | -1.21% | 3,190 | 3,424 |
| Weldon | 326 | -1.25% | 1,338 | 1,440 |
| Lake Waccamaw | 327 | -1.32% | 1,195 | 1,290 |
| Badin | 328 | -2.07% | 1,794 | 2,024 |
| Bayboro | 329 | -2.36% | 1,075 | 1,234 |
| Murfreesboro | 330 | -3.17% | 2,136 | 2,559 |
North Carolina's cities with over 1,000 residents show varied growth patterns from 2020 to 2025. Wendell leads with 9.24% annualized growth, followed by Zebulon (7.62%) and Calabash (7.47%). The largest population centers are Charlotte (977,740), Raleigh (516,807), and Greensboro (313,135). Of the 330 cities over 1,000 population, 276 are growing while 54 experienced population decline. Overall, cities averaged 1.11% annualized growth, with total urban population growing by 9.44% annually.