There are 18 cities in McDowell County, North Carolina.
Note: As defined by the US Census Bureau, a city's official boundaries often extend miles beyond the city itself and may even cross county lines. As such, several thousand US cities officially exist in two or more counties (and therefore appear on multiple counties' lists of cities.)
City | Rank | 2024 Population | 2020 Population | Annual Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morganton | 1 | 17,776 | 17,502 | 0.38% | 925 | 19.2 | City |
| Black Mountain | 2 | 8,563 | 8,430 | 0.39% | 1,276 | 6.7 | Town |
| Marion | 3 | 7,433 | 7,673 | -0.8% | 1,244 | 6.0 | City |
| Swannanoa | 4 | 5,465 | 4,360 | 1.17% | 857 | 6.4 | CDP |
| Valdese | 5 | 4,703 | 4,686 | 0.08% | 598 | 7.9 | Town |
| Spruce Pine | 6 | 2,188 | 2,198 | -0.14% | 539 | 4.1 | Town |
| Drexel | 7 | 1,760 | 1,754 | 0.06% | 1,274 | 1.4 | Town |
| Nebo | 8 | 1,660 | 1,318 | 7.65% | 313 | 5.3 | CDP |
| Salem | 9 | 1,537 | 1,479 | -3.03% | 358 | 4.3 | CDP |
| Glen Alpine | 10 | 1,525 | 1,525 | 0% | 710 | 2.1 | Town |
| Lake Lure | 11 | 1,393 | 1,368 | 0.43% | 106 | 13.2 | Town |
| Montreat | 12 | 924 | 903 | 0.54% | 339 | 2.7 | Town |
| West Marion | 13 | 844 | 1,100 | -4.09% | 569 | 1.5 | CDP |
| Old Fort | 14 | 820 | 811 | 0.24% | 672 | 1.2 | Town |
| Newland | 15 | 723 | 715 | 0.28% | 967 | 0.7 | Town |
| Linville | 16 | 510 | 299 | 7.82% | 286 | 1.8 | CDP |
| Glenwood | 17 | 327 | 302 | 7.92% | 203 | 1.6 | CDP |
| Chimney Rock Village | 18 | 140 | 139 | 0% | 42 | 3.4 | Village |
Note: City markers shown outside the county boundary mean that a part of the city extends into this county, but is primarily located in an adjacent county.
Morganton is the largest city in McDowell County.
Chimney Rock Village is the smallest city in McDowell County.
There are 18 cities in McDowell County, North Carolina.