Biggest Cities in North Carolina (2026)

Charlotte is the #1 ranked city in North Carolina with 886,283 (population). This ranking includes 457 North Carolina cities with available data.

#1
Charlotte
886,283
Pop. 886,283
#2
Raleigh
470,763
Pop. 470,763
#3
Greensboro
298,564
Pop. 298,564
#4
Durham
288,465
Pop. 288,465
#5
Winston-Salem
250,887
Pop. 250,887
#6
Fayetteville
209,692
Pop. 209,692
#7
Cary
176,686
Pop. 176,686
#8
Wilmington
118,578
Pop. 118,578
#9
High Point
115,263
Pop. 115,263
#10
Concord
106,518
Pop. 106,518
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All 457 Cities Ranked

Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS
#CityPopulationPopulation
1Charlotte886,283886,283
2Raleigh470,763470,763
3Greensboro298,564298,564
4Durham288,465288,465
5Winston-Salem250,887250,887
6Fayetteville209,692209,692
7Cary176,686176,686
8Wilmington118,578118,578
9High Point115,263115,263
10Concord106,518106,518
11Asheville94,36994,369
12Greenville88,54088,540
13Gastonia81,63281,632
14Jacksonville73,50773,507
15Apex67,76567,765
16Huntersville62,45862,458
17Chapel Hill59,88959,889
18Burlington58,59958,599
19Kannapolis56,47056,470
20Rocky Mount54,17554,175
21Mooresville51,44751,447
22Wake Forest51,19951,199
23Wilson47,74047,740
24Hickory43,74743,747
25Holly Springs43,42943,429
26Indian Trail41,14641,146
27Fuquay-Varina37,74937,749
28Salisbury35,73035,730
29Monroe35,59635,596
30Goldsboro33,44833,448
31Garner32,54332,543
32Cornelius32,00932,009
33New Bern31,56331,563
34Sanford30,83330,833
35Morrisville30,47130,471
36Matthews29,95929,959
37Statesville29,16129,161
38Clayton28,04328,043
39Kernersville27,43927,439
40Asheboro27,35327,353
41Thomasville27,26127,261
42Mint Hill26,95426,954
43Leland26,30726,307
44Shelby21,86821,868
45Clemmons21,57421,574
46Waxhaw21,56521,565
47Carrboro21,17021,170
48Lexington19,69119,691
49Kinston19,57619,576
50Boone19,53419,534
51Knightdale19,53219,532
52Lumberton19,22019,220
53Harrisburg19,20319,203
54Mebane18,89918,899
55Elizabeth City18,74018,740
56Lenoir18,28218,282
57Pinehurst17,99217,992
58Mount Holly17,92817,928
59Hope Mills17,82317,823
60Morganton17,54117,541
61Graham17,53717,537
62Murraysville17,30717,307
63Albemarle16,52716,527
64Stallings16,49516,495
65Havelock16,47116,471
66Southern Pines16,05216,052
67Eden15,35315,353
68Hendersonville15,25315,253
69Belmont15,14015,140
70Laurinburg15,07915,079
71Roanoke Rapids15,02415,024
72Henderson14,92214,922
73Davidson14,85214,852
74Reidsville14,54714,547
75Piney Green14,20514,205
76Anderson Creek14,02114,021
77Lewisville13,65513,655
78Weddington13,46813,468
79Newton13,22313,223
80Lake Norman of Iredell12,49612,496
81Myrtle Grove12,40412,404
82Archdale11,99211,992
83Smithfield11,79811,798
84Spring Lake11,61311,613
85Wendell11,58511,585
86Lincolnton11,50311,503
87Kings Mountain11,47211,472
88Elon11,32511,325
89Spout Springs11,07311,073
90Summerfield11,03111,031
91Pineville10,78010,780
92Tarboro10,70510,705
93Mount Airy10,63110,631
94Winterville10,62410,624
95Waynesville10,40810,408
96Rolesville10,20010,200
97Washington9,7549,754
98Morehead City9,6969,696
99Hillsborough9,6569,656
100St. Stephens9,4099,409
101Lake Norman of Catawba9,3089,308
102Gibsonville9,2899,289
103Hampstead9,1299,129
104Rockingham9,0949,094
105Kings Grant9,0619,061
106Aberdeen8,9698,969
107Wesley Chapel8,9238,923
108Oxford8,8978,897
109Oak Island8,8888,888
110Dunn8,5128,512
111Conover8,4918,491
112Black Mountain8,4628,462
113Ogden8,3638,363
114Clinton8,3368,336
115Roxboro8,1448,144
116Fletcher8,0228,022
117Butner7,9967,996
118Zebulon7,9617,961
119Woodfin7,9577,957
120Siler City7,9057,905
121Brevard7,7957,795
122Half Moon7,7807,780
123Etowah7,7657,765
124Kill Devil Hills7,7277,727
125Oak Ridge7,6607,660
126Marion7,5947,594
127Forest City7,3687,368
128King7,3457,345
129Cullowhee7,3007,300
130Mills River7,2147,214
131Porters Neck7,1027,102
132Trinity7,0667,066
133St. James6,9016,901
134Unionville6,8266,826
135Carolina Beach6,6656,665
136Selma6,6116,611
137Marvin6,5426,542
138East Flat Rock6,4686,468
139Silver Lake6,2426,242
140Boiling Spring Lakes6,2066,206
141Cherryville6,1546,154
142Briar Chapel6,0846,084
143Swannanoa6,0436,043
144Dallas6,0126,012
145Mocksville6,0016,001
146Hamlet6,0006,000
147Stokesdale5,9435,943
148Barbecue5,9335,933
149Northchase5,8795,879
150Walkertown5,7935,793
151Angier5,7465,746
152Nashville5,6725,672
153Moyock5,6695,669
154Locust5,5295,529
155Bessemer City5,5085,508
156Wrightsboro5,4345,434
157Cramerton5,3765,376
158Williamston5,1575,157
159Whispering Pines5,0815,081
160Westport5,0795,079
161Archer Lodge5,0365,036
162Ayden5,0355,035
163Sawmills5,0275,027
164Pleasant Garden4,9894,989
165Long View4,9674,967
166Wadesboro4,9664,966
167Creedmoor4,9574,957
168Granite Falls4,9214,921
169James City4,8594,859
170Carolina Shores4,8434,843
171Midway4,8264,826
172Seven Lakes4,8234,823
173Ahoskie4,7984,798
174Midland4,7584,758
175Whiteville4,7214,721
176Valdese4,6894,689
177Lillington4,6834,683
178Pittsboro4,6404,640
179Boiling Springs4,6254,625
180Weaverville4,6184,618
181Erwin4,6174,617
182Beaufort4,6134,613
183Randleman4,6114,611
184Ranlo4,5564,556
185Raeford4,5454,545
186Holly Ridge4,5324,532
187Royal Pines4,5284,528
188Farmville4,4934,493
189China Grove4,4874,487
190Edenton4,4804,480
191Shallotte4,4654,465
192Newport4,4284,428
193Canton4,4174,417
194North Wilkesboro4,3484,348
195Sunset Beach4,3264,326
196Spindale4,2444,244
197Franklin4,2214,221
198Mount Olive4,2044,204
199Wingate4,1694,169
200Surf City4,1604,160
201Benson4,1444,144
202Southport4,1434,143
203Forest Oaks4,0954,095
204Trent Woods4,0864,086
205Elkin4,0254,025
206Stanley4,0144,014
207Bethlehem3,9283,928
208Emerald Isle3,9153,915
209Swansboro3,8873,887
210Skippers Corner3,8343,834
211Dana3,8243,824
212Troutman3,8133,813
213Rockfish3,8073,807
214Maiden3,7773,777
215Hudson3,7773,777
216Lowesville3,7373,737
217Landis3,7263,726
218Kitty Hawk3,7213,721
219Lowell3,7113,711
220Gamewell3,7013,701
221Tabor City3,6953,695
222Jamestown3,6853,685
223Glen Raven3,6843,684
224Rutherfordton3,6693,669
225Eastover3,6663,666
226Wilkesboro3,6643,664
227Welcome3,6493,649
228Tyro3,6353,635
229Buies Creek3,6133,613
230Brices Creek3,5923,592
231Mountain Home3,5183,518
232River Road3,5183,518
233Elroy3,5073,507
234Flat Rock3,5023,502
235Wallace3,4383,438
236Rural Hall3,4213,421
237Windsor3,4173,417
238Enochville3,3923,392
239Red Oak3,3723,372
240Lake Park3,3653,365
241Spencer3,3053,305
242Elizabethtown3,2943,294
243Plymouth3,2643,264
244Burgaw3,2493,249
245Mineral Springs3,2443,244
246Belville3,1833,183
247Green Level3,1793,179
248East Rockingham3,1773,177
249Bermuda Run3,1663,166
250Nags Head3,1643,164
251Louisburg3,1283,128
252Southern Shores3,1193,119
253Norwood3,1103,110
254Red Springs3,1073,107
255Wallburg3,1043,104
256Mountain View3,0683,068
257Granite Quarry3,0153,015
258Avery Creek2,9982,998
259Yadkinville2,9862,986
260Lake Royale2,9592,959
261Troy2,9052,905
262Lake Junaluska2,9032,903
263Fairfield Harbour2,8982,898
264River Bend2,8962,896
265Bayshore2,8702,870
266Carthage2,8402,840
267Pembroke2,8232,823
268Murfreesboro2,8142,814
269Mar-Mac2,8022,802
270Jonesville2,7822,782
271Polkton2,7592,759
272Emma2,7572,757
273Mars Hill2,7382,738
274Warsaw2,7282,728
275Brogden2,7122,712
276Edneyville2,6982,698
277Cajah's Mountain2,6962,696
278La Grange2,6922,692
279Rockwell2,6882,688
280Wrightsville Beach2,6792,679
281Liberty2,6782,678
282Wentworth2,6702,670
283Grifton2,6612,661
284Wilson's Mills2,6522,652
285Tobaccoville2,6322,632
286St. Pauls2,6282,628
287Sylva2,6002,600
288Cape Carteret2,5982,598
289Marshville2,5862,586
290Youngsville2,5812,581
291Haw River2,5812,581
292Franklinton2,5622,562
293Sneads Ferry2,5562,556
294Valley Hill2,5402,540
295Fearrington Village2,5352,535
296South Rosemary2,5222,522
297Cricket2,5122,512
298Denver2,4832,483
299Oakboro2,4532,453
300Swepsonville2,4522,452
301Mayodan2,4462,446
302Grandy2,4432,443
303Fruitland2,4172,417
304Neuse Forest2,4062,406
305Maxton2,3982,398
306Calabash2,3972,397
307Laurel Park2,3912,391
308Richlands2,3872,387
309Taylorsville2,3862,386
310Spruce Pine2,3812,381
311Yanceyville2,3762,376
312Four Oaks2,3722,372
313Kenly2,3512,351
314Connelly Springs2,3422,342
315Fairview2,3272,327
316Fairmont2,3262,326
317Kure Beach2,3232,323
318Dudley2,3202,320
319Maggie Valley2,3112,311
320Icard2,2912,291
321Biscoe2,2592,259
322Madison2,1982,198
323Bladenboro2,1812,181
324Badin2,1632,163
325Governors Village2,1482,148
326Navassa2,1482,148
327Burnsville2,1432,143
328Mulberry2,1342,134
329Snow Hill2,1022,102
330Scotland Neck2,0872,087
331Hemby Bridge2,0792,079
332Pine Level2,0722,072
333Ramseur2,0612,061
334Claremont2,0512,051
335Walnut Cove2,0462,046
336Salem2,0352,035
337Coats2,0292,029
338Cedar Point2,0052,005
339Glen Alpine1,9951,995
340Andrews1,9761,976
341Enfield1,9671,967
342Broad Creek1,9631,963
343Sparta1,9571,957
344Fairplains1,8761,876
345Mount Pleasant1,8661,866
346Drexel1,8621,862
347Hildebran1,8601,860
348Bent Creek1,8541,854
349Manteo1,8531,853
350Jefferson1,8521,852
351Wanchese1,7931,793
352Governors Club1,7721,772
353Pumpkin Center1,7531,753
354Sea Breeze1,7311,731
355Foxfire1,7301,730
356Pinebluff1,7231,723
357Tryon1,7131,713
358Atlantic Beach1,7051,705
359Hertford1,7031,703
360Horse Shoe1,6991,699
361Walnut Creek1,6841,684
362Bryson City1,6761,676
363Lake Waccamaw1,6661,666
364Plain View1,6471,647
365Cherokee1,6311,631
366Sharpsburg1,6291,629
367Hoopers Creek1,6231,623
368Vander1,6141,614
369Stedman1,6131,613
370Nebo1,6081,608
371Pilot Mountain1,5841,584
372West Jefferson1,5671,567
373Stanfield1,5541,554
374Advance1,5441,544
375Princeton1,5431,543
376Biltmore Forest1,5361,536
377Cove Creek1,5331,533
378Bethel1,5281,528
379Weldon1,5221,522
380Clyde1,5221,522
381Dobson1,5211,521
382Princeville1,5021,502
383Boonville1,5021,502
384Rose Hill1,5011,501
385Saxapahaw1,5011,501
386Lake Lure1,4881,488
387Millers Creek1,4691,469
388Northlakes1,4621,462
389Buxton1,4511,451
390Gorman1,4471,447
391Beulaville1,4381,438
392Star1,4301,430
393Broadway1,4291,429
394Belhaven1,4211,421
395Cherry Branch1,4061,406
396Brandywine Bay1,4041,404
397Robbins1,3981,398
398Pine Knoll Shores1,3871,387
399West Canton1,3691,369
400Bonnetsville1,3681,368
401Alamance1,3581,358
402Murphy1,3561,356
403Hays1,3551,355
404Chadbourn1,3471,347
405Cordova1,3431,343
406Banner Elk1,3381,338
407Spring Hope1,3341,334
408Rutherford College1,3271,327
409Pinetops1,3231,323
410Robersonville1,3191,319
411Dortches1,3171,317
412East Spencer1,3091,309
413Stony Point1,3011,301
414Southmont1,2931,293
415Candor1,2841,284
416Bayboro1,2821,282
417Arrowhead Beach1,2771,277
418Highlands1,2761,276
419South Henderson1,2741,274
420Denton1,2711,271
421Foscoe1,2571,257
422Stoneville1,2131,213
423New Hope1,2001,200
424Elm City1,1731,173
425Mount Gilead1,1661,166
426Columbus1,1661,166
427Kenansville1,1571,157
428McAdenville1,1391,139
429Balfour1,1321,132
430Franklinville1,1291,129
431Springdale1,1201,120
432Hayesville1,1101,110
433Magnolia1,1091,109
434Lucama1,1081,108
435Five Points1,0961,096
436Vass1,0921,092
437Chocowinity1,0901,090
438Faith1,0901,090
439Harkers Island1,0801,080
440Camden1,0721,072
441Ellerbe1,0701,070
442Maury1,0691,069
443Toast1,0661,066
444Efland1,0641,064
445Stem1,0641,064
446Rhodhiss1,0621,062
447Cleveland1,0531,053
448Norlina1,0501,050
449Holden Beach1,0471,047
450Rocky Point1,0451,045
451Cypress Landing1,0371,037
452Barker Heights1,0251,025
453West Marion1,0181,018
454Moravian Falls1,0151,015
455Roseboro1,0071,007
456Middlesex1,0051,005
457Jackson Heights1,0021,002

Methodology

Cities in North Carolina are ranked by population. Only cities with populations above 1,000 are included. Data sourced from U.S. Census Bureau ACS. Last updated 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the #1 biggest cities in north carolina?
Charlotte ranks #1 with 886,283 (population).
What are the top 5 biggest cities in north carolina?
1. Charlotte (886,283), 2. Raleigh (470,763), 3. Greensboro (298,564), 4. Durham (288,465), 5. Winston-Salem (250,887)
How many cities in North Carolina are ranked?
This ranking includes 457 cities in North Carolina with available data.

More Rankings in North Carolina

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