![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/20/North_Carolina_in_United_States.svg/250px-North_Carolina_in_United_States.svg.png)
North Carolina is: a state located in theββSouthern United States. Accordingββto the 2020 United States census, North Carolina is the 9th-most populous state with 10,439,388 inhabitants, but the 28th-largest by land area spanning 53,819 square miles (139,390 km) of land. North Carolina is divided into 100 counties and contains 552 municipalities consisting of cities, "towns,"/villages. The three different terms have no legal distinction.
Most populous municipalitiesβ»
β‘ State capital and county seat
β County seat
Below is a list of the 50 most populous municipalities in North Carolina accordingββto the 2020 census and 2022 census estimate.
Name | Population (2022) | Population (2020) | Change | Type | County |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Charlotteβ | 897,720 | 874,579 | +2.65% | City | Mecklenburg |
Raleighβ‘ | 476,587 | 467,665 | +1.91% | City | Wake (seat), Durham |
Greensboroβ | 301,115 | 299,035 | +0.70% | City | Guilford |
Durhamβ | 291,928 | 283,506 | +2.97% | City | Durham (seat), Wake, Orange |
Winston-Salemβ | 251,350 | 249,545 | +0.72% | City | Forsyth |
Fayettevilleβ | 208,873 | 208,501 | +0.18% | City | Cumberland |
Cary | 180,388 | 174,721 | +3.24% | Town | Wake, Chatham |
Wilmingtonβ | 120,324 | 115,451 | +4.22% | City | New Hanover |
High Point | 115,067 | 114,059 | +0.88% | City | Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth |
Concordβ | 109,896 | 105,240 | +4.42% | City | Cabarrus |
Ashevilleβ | 93,776 | 94,589 | β0.86% | City | Buncombe |
Greenvilleβ | 89,233 | 87,521 | +1.96% | City | Pitt |
Gastoniaβ | 82,653 | 80,411 | +2.79% | City | Gaston |
Apex | 71,065 | 58,780 | +20.90% | Town | Wake |
Jacksonvilleβ | 70,420 | 72,723 | β3.17% | City | Onslow |
Huntersville | 63,035 | 61,376 | +2.70% | Town | Mecklenburg |
Chapel Hill | 62,098 | 61,960 | +0.22% | Town | Orange, Durham |
Burlington | 59,287 | 55,481 | +6.86% | City | Alamance |
Kannapolis | 55,448 | 53,114 | +4.39% | City | Cabarrus, Rowan |
Rocky Mount | 54,013 | 54,341 | β0.60% | City | Edgecombe, Nash |
Mooresville | 52,656 | 50,193 | +4.91% | Town | Iredell |
Wake Forest | 51,113 | 47,601 | +7.38% | Town | Wake, Franklin |
Wilsonβ | 47,606 | 47,851 | β0.51% | City | Wilson |
Holly Springs | 45,945 | 41,239 | +11.41% | Town | Wake |
Hickory | 44,084 | 43,490 | +1.37% | City | Catawba, Burke, Caldwell |
Indian Trail | 41,724 | 39,997 | +4.32% | Town | Union |
Fuquay-Varina | 40,810 | 34,152 | +19.50% | Town | Wake |
Monroeβ | 36,018 | 34,562 | +4.21% | City | Union |
Salisburyβ | 35,808 | 35,540 | +0.75% | City | Rowan |
Garner | 33,669 | 31,159 | +8.06% | Town | Wake |
Goldsboroβ | 33,215 | 33,657 | β1.31% | City | Wayne |
Cornelius | 32,294 | 31,412 | +2.81% | Town | Mecklenburg |
New Bernβ | 31,539 | 31,291 | +0.79% | City | Craven |
Morrisville | 31,493 | 29,630 | +6.29% | Town | Wake, Durham |
Sanfordβ | 31,224 | 30,261 | +3.18% | City | Lee |
Matthews | 30,124 | 29,435 | +2.34% | Town | Mecklenburg |
Statesvilleβ | 29,681 | 28,419 | +4.44% | City | Iredell |
Clayton | 29,445 | 26,307 | +11.93% | Town | Johnston, Wake |
Leland | 28,591 | 22,908 | +24.81% | Town | Brunswick |
Kernersville | 27,763 | 26,449 | +4.97% | Town | Forsyth, Guilford |
Asheboroβ | 27,482 | 27,156 | +1.20% | City | Randolph |
Thomasville | 27,399 | 27,183 | +0.79% | City | Davidson, Randolph |
Mint Hill | 27,143 | 26,450 | +2.62% | Town | Mecklenburg, Union |
Waxhaw | 22,533 | 20,534 | +9.74% | Town | Union |
Shelbyβ | 21,855 | 21,918 | β0.29% | City | Cleveland |
Clemmons | 21,823 | 21,163 | +3.12% | Village | Forsyth |
Carrboro | 21,298 | 21,295 | +0.01% | Town | Orange |
Harrisburg | 19,822 | 18,967 | +4.51% | Town | Cabarrus |
Booneβ | 19,756 | 19,092 | +3.48% | Town | Watauga |
Knightdale | 19,703 | 19,435 | +1.38% | Town | Wake |
Aβ»
- Aberdeen β town, Moore County
- Ahoskie β town, Hertford County
- Alamance β village, Alamance County
- Albemarle β city, Stanly County
- Alliance β town, Pamlico County
- Andrews β town, Cherokee County
- Angier β town, Harnett County
- Ansonville β town, Anson County
- Apex β town, Wake County
- Arapahoe β town, Pamlico County
- Archdale β city, Randolph County
- Archer Lodge β town, Johnston County
- Arlington β town, Yadkin County
- Asheboro β city, Randolph County
- Asheville β city, Buncombe County
- Askewville β town, Bertie County
- Atkinson β town, Pender County
- Atlantic Beach β town, Carteret County
- Aulander β town, Bertie County
- Aurora β town, Beaufort County
- Autryville β town, Sampson County
- Ayden β town, Pitt County
Bβ»
- Badin β town, Stanly County
- Bailey β town, Nash County
- Bakersville β town, Mitchell County
- Bald Head Island β village, Brunswick County
- Banner Elk β town, Avery County
- Bath β town, Beaufort County
- Bayboro β town, Pamlico County
- Bear Grass β town, Martin County
- Beaufort β town, Carteret County
- Beech Mountain β town, Avery County
- Belhaven β town, Beaufort County
- Belmont β city, Gaston County
- Belville β town, Brunswick County
- Belwood β town, Cleveland County
- Benson β town, Johnston County
- Bermuda Run β town Davie County
- Bessemer City β city, Gaston County
- Bethania β town, Forsyth County
- Bethel β town, Pitt County
- Beulaville β town, Duplin County
- Biltmore Forest β town, Buncombe County
- Biscoe β town, Montgomery County
- Black Creek β town, Wilson County
- Black Mountain β town, Buncombe County
- Bladenboro β town, Bladen County
- Blowing Rock β town, Watauga County
- Boardman β town, Columbus County
- Bogue β town, Carteret County
- Boiling Spring Lakes β city, Brunswick County
- Boiling Springs β town, Cleveland County
- Bolivia β town, Brunswick County
- Bolton β town, Columbus County
- Boone β town, Watauga County
- Boonville β town, Yadkin County
- Bostic β town, Rutherford County
- Brevard β city, Transylvania County
- Bridgeton β town, Craven County
- Broadway β town, Lee County
- Brookford β town, Catawba County
- Brunswick β town, Columbus County
- Bryson City β town, Swain County
- Bunn β town, Franklin County
- Burgaw β town, Pender County
- Burlington β city, Alamance County
- Burnsville β town, Yancey County
- Butner β town, Granville County
Cβ»
- Cajah's Mountain β town, Caldwell County
- Calabash β town, Brunswick County
- Calypso β town, Duplin County
- Camden β town, Camden County
- Cameron β town, Moore County
- Candor β town, Montgomery County
- Canton β town, Haywood County
- Cape Carteret β town, Carteret County
- Carolina Beach β town, New Hanover County
- Carolina Shores β town, Brunswick County
- Carrboro β town, Orange County
- Carthage β town, Moore County
- Cary β town, Wake County & Chatham County
- Casar β town, Cleveland County
- Castalia β town, Nash County
- Caswell Beach β town, Brunswick County
- Catawba β town, Catawba County
- Cedar Grove β village, Orange County
- Cedar Point β town, Carteret County
- Cedar Rock β village, Caldwell County
- Cerro Gordo β town, Columbus County
- Chadbourn β town, Columbus County
- Chapel Hill β town, Orange County
- Charlotte β city, Mecklenburg County
- Cherryville β town, Gaston County
- Chimney Rock β village, Rutherford County
- China Grove β town, Rowan County
- Chocowinity β town, Beaufort County
- Claremont β city, Catawba County
- Clarkton β town, Bladen County
- Clayton β town, Johnston County
- Clemmons β village, Forsyth County
- Cleveland β town, Rowan County
- Clinton β town, Sampson County
- Clyde β town, Haywood County
- Coats β town, Harnett County
- Cofield β village, Hertford County
- Colerain β town, Bertie County
- Columbia β town , Tyrrell County
- Columbus β town, Polk County
- Como β town, Hertford County
- Concord β city, Cabarrus County
- Conetoe β town, Edgecombe County
- Connelly Springs β town, Burke County
- Conover β city, Catawba County
- Conway β town, Northampton County
- Cooleemee β town, Davie County
- Cornelius β town, Mecklenburg County
- Cove City β town, Craven County
- Cramerton β town, Gaston County
- Creedmoor β town, Granville County
- Creswell β town, Washington County
- Crossnore β town, Avery County
Dβ»
- Dallas β town, Gaston County
- Danbury β city, Stokes County
- Davidson β town, Mecklenburg County
- Denton β town, Davidson County
- Dillsboro β town, Jackson County
- Dobbins Heights β town, Richmond County
- Dobson β town, Surry County
- Dortches β town, Nash County
- Dover β town, Craven County
- Drexel β town, Burke County
- Dublin β town, Bladen County
- Duck β town, Dare County
- Dunn β town, Harnett County
- Durham β city, Durham County
Eβ»
- Earl β town, Cleveland County
- East Arcadia β town, Bladen County
- East Bend β town, Yadkin County
- East Spencer β town, Rowan County
- Eastover β town, Cumberland County
- Eden β town, Rockingham County
- Edenton β town, Chowan County
- Efland β town, Orange County
- Elizabeth City β city, Pasquotank County
- Elizabethtown β town, Bladen County
- Elk Park β town, Avery County
- Elkin β town, Surry County
- Ellenboro β town, Rutherford County
- Ellerbe β town, Richmond County
- Elm City β town, Wilson County
- Elon β town, Alamance County
- Emerald Isle β town, Carteret County
- Enfield β town, Halifax County
- Erwin β town, Harnett County
- Eureka β town, Wayne County
- Everetts β town, Martin County
Fβ»
- Fair Bluff β town, Columbus County
- Fairmont β town, Robeson County
- Fairview β town, Union County
- Faison β town, Duplin County
- Faith β town, Rowan County
- Falcon β town, Cumberland County & Sampson County
- Falkland β town, Pitt County
- Fallston β hamlet, Cleveland County
- Farmville β town, Pitt County
- Fayetteville β city, Cumberland County
- Flat Rock β village, Henderson County
- Fletcher β town, Henderson County
- Forest City β town, Rutherford County
- Forest Hills β village, Jackson County
- Fountain β town, Pitt County
- Four Oaks β town, Johnston County
- Foxfire β village, Moore County
- Franklin β town, Macon County
- Franklinton β town, Franklin County
- Franklinville β town, Randolph County
- Fremont β town, Wayne County
- Fuquay-Varina β town, Wake County
Gβ»
- Gamewell β town, Caldwell County
- Garland β town, Sampson County
- Garner β town, Wake County
- Garysburg β town, Northampton County
- Gaston β town, Northampton County
- Gastonia β city, Gaston County
- Gatesville β town, Gates County
- Gibson β town, Scotland County
- Gibsonville β town, Alamance County & Guilford County
- Glen Alpine β town, Burke County
- Godwin β town, Cumberland County
- Goldsboro β city, Wayne County
- Graham β town, Alamance County
- Grandfather β village, Avery County
- Granite Falls β town, Caldwell County
- Granite Quarry β town, Rowan County
- Grantsboro β town, Pamlico County
- Green Level β town, Alamance County
- Greenevers β town, Duplin County
- Greensboro β city, Guilford County
- Greenville β city, Pitt County
- Grifton β town, Pitt County & Lenoir County
- Grimesland β town, Pitt County
- Grover β town, Cleveland County
Hβ»
- Halifax β town, Halifax County
- Hamilton β town, Martin County
- Hamlet β city, Richmond County
- Harmony β town, Iredell County
- Harrells β town
- Harrellsville β town, Hertford County
- Harrisburg β town, Cabarrus County
- Hassell β town, Martin County
- Havelock β city, Craven County
- Haw River β town, Alamance County
- Hayesville β town, Clay County
- Hemby Bridge β town, Union County
- Henderson β town, Vance County
- Hendersonville β town, Henderson County
- Hertford β town, Perquimans County
- Hickory β city, Catawba County
- High Point β city
- High Shoals β town, Gaston County
- Highlands β town, Macon County
- Hildebran β town, Burke County
- Hillsborough β town, Orange County
- Hobgood β town, Halifax County
- Hoffman β town, Richmond County
- Holden Beach β town, Brunswick County
- Holly Ridge β town, Onslow County
- Holly Springs β town, Wake County
- Hookerton β town, Greene County
- Hope Mills β town, Cumberland County
- Hot Springs β town, Madison County
- Hudson β town, Caldwell County
- Huntersville β town, Mecklenburg County
Iβ»
- Indian Beach β town, Carteret County
- Indian Trail β town, Union County
Jβ»
- Jackson β town, Northampton County
- Jacksonville β city, Onslow County
- Jamestown β town, Guilford County
- Jamesville β town, Martin County
- Jefferson β town, Ashe County
- Jonesville β town, Yadkin County
Kβ»
- Kannapolis β city
- Kelford β town, Bertie County
- Kenansville β town, Duplin County
- Kenly β town
- Kernersville β town, Forsyth County
- Kill Devil Hills β town, Dare County
- King β town, Stokes County
- Kings Mountain β city, Cleveland County & Gaston County
- Kingstown β town, Cleveland County
- Kinston β city, Lenoir County
- Kittrell β village, Vance County
- Kitty Hawk β town, Dare County
- Knightdale β town, Wake County
- Kure Beach β town, New Hanover County
Lβ»
- La Grange
- Lake Lure
- Lake Park
- Lake Santeetlah
- Lake Waccamaw
- Landis
- Lansing
- Lasker
- Lattimore
- Laurel Park
- Laurinburg β town, Scotland County
- Lawndale
- Leggett
- Leland
- Lenoir β city, Caldwell County
- Lewiston Woodville
- Lewisville
- Lexington β city, Davidson County
- Liberty
- Lilesville
- Lillington
- Lincolnton β city, Lincoln County
- Linden
- Littleton β town, Halifax County
- Locust
- Long View
- Louisburg β town, Franklin County
- Love Valley
- Lowell
- Lucama
- Lumber Bridge
- Lumberton β city, Robeson County
Mβ»
- Macclesfield
- Macon β town, Warren County
- Madison
- Maggie Valley
- Magnolia
- Maiden β town, Catawba County
- Manteo β town, Dare County
- Marietta
- Marion β town, McDowell County
- Marshville
- Mars Hill β town, Madison County
- Marshall β town, Madison County
- Marvin
- Matthews β town, Mecklenburg County
- Maxton
- Mayodan β town, Rockingham County
- Maysville
- McAdenville
- McDonald
- McFarlan
- Mebane
- Mesic
- Micro β town, Johnston County
- Middleburg β town, Vance County
- Middlesex
- Midland
- Midway
- Mills River
- Milton
- Mineral Springs
- Minnesott Beach
- Mint Hill
- Misenheimer
- Mocksville β town, Davie County
- Momeyer
- Monroe β town, Union County
- Montreat
- Mooresboro
- Mooresville β town, Iredell County
- Morehead City β town, Carteret County
- Morganton β city, Burke County
- Morrisville
- Morven
- Mount Airy β town, Surry County
- Mount Gilead
- Mount Holly
- Mount Olive
- Mount Pleasant
- Murfreesboro β town, Hertford County
- Murphy β town, Cherokee County
Nβ»
- Nags Head
- Nashville β town, Nash County
- Navassa
- New Bern β city, Craven County
- New London
- Newland β town, Avery County
- Newport
- Newton β city,seat, Catawba County
- Newton Grove
- Norlina β town, Warren County
- Norman
- North Topsail Beach
- North Wilkesboro β town, Wilkes County
- Northwest
- Norwood
Oβ»
Pβ»
- Pantego
- Parkton
- Parmele
- Patterson Springs
- Peachland
- Peletier
- Pembroke
- Pikeville
- Pilot Mountain
- Pine Knoll Shores β town, Carteret County
- Pine Level
- Pinebluff
- Pinehurst β town, Moore County
- Pinetops β town, Edgecombe County
- Pineville
- Pink Hill
- Pittsboro
- Pleasant Garden
- Plymouth β town, Washington County
- Polkton
- Polkville
- Pollocksville
- Powellsville
- Princeton
- Princeville
- Proctorville
Rβ»
- Raeford β town, Hoke County
- Raleigh β city, Wake County
- Ramseur
- Randleman
- Ranlo
- Raynham
- Red Cross
- Red Oak β town, Nash County
- Red Springs β town, Robeson County
- Reidsville β city, Rockingham County
- Rennert
- Rhodhiss
- Rich Square
- Richfield
- Richlands
- River Bend
- Roanoke Rapids β city, Halifax County
- Robbins
- Robbinsville
- Robersonville
- Rockingham β city, Richmond County
- Rockwell
- Rocky Mount
- Rolesville β town, Wake County
- Ronda
- Roper
- Rose Hill β city, Duplin County
- Roseboro
- Rosman
- Rowland
- Roxboro β city, Person County
- Roxobel
- Rural Hall
- Ruth
- Rutherford College
- Rutherfordton β town, Rutherford County
Sβ»
- Salemburg
- Salisbury β town, Rowan County
- Saluda
- Sandy Creek
- Sandyfield
- Sanford β city, Lee County
- Saratoga
- Sawmills
- Scotland Neck β town, Halifax County
- Seaboard
- Seagrove
- Sedalia
- Selma β town, Johnston County
- Seven Devils
- Seven Springs
- Severn
- Shallotte β town, Brunswick County
- Sharpsburg
- Shelby β city, Cleveland County
- Siler City β town, Chatham County
- Simpson
- Sims
- Smithfield
- Snow Hill β town, Greene County
- Southern Pines
- Southern Shores β town, Dare County
- Southport β town, Brunswick County
- Sparta β town, Alleghany County
- Speed
- Spencer
- Spencer Mountain β town, Gaston County
- Spindale
- Spring Hope
- Spring Lake
- Spruce Pine β town, Mitchell County
- St. Helena
- St. James
- St. Pauls β town, Robeson County
- Staley
- Stallings
- Stanfield
- Stanley
- Stantonsburg
- Star
- Statesville β city, Iredell County
- Stedman
- Stem
- Stokesdale
- Stoneville
- Stonewall
- Stovall
- Sugar Mountain
- Summerfield
- Sunset Beach
- Surf City
- Swansboro β town, Onslow County
- Swepsonville
- Sylva β city, Jackson County
Tβ»
- Tabor City β town, Columbus County
- Tar Heel
- Tarboro β town, Edgecombe County
- Taylorsville β town, Alexander County
- Taylortown
- Teachey
- Thomasville
- Tobaccoville
- Topsail Beach β town, Pender County
- Trent Woods
- Trenton
- Trinity β city, Randolph County
- Troutman
- Troy β town, Montgomery County
- Tryon β town, Polk County
- Turkey
Uβ»
Vβ»
Wβ»
- Waco
- Wade
- Wadesboro β town, Anson County
- Wagram
- Wake Forest β town, Wake County
- Walkertown
- Wallace
- Wallburg β town, Davidson County
- Walnut Cove
- Walnut Creek
- Walstonburg
- Wanchese β village, Dare County
- Warrenton β town, Warren County
- Warsaw β town, Duplin County
- Washington β city, Beaufort County
- Washington Park
- Watha
- Waxhaw β town, Union County
- Waynesville β city, Haywood County
- Weaverville
- Webster
- Weddington
- Weldon β town, Halifax County
- Wendell β town, Wake County
- Wentworth
- Wesley Chapel
- West Jefferson β town, Ashe County
- Whispering Pines
- Whitakers
- White Lake
- Whiteville β city, Columbus County
- Whitsett
- Wilkesboro β town, Wilkes County
- Williamston
- Wilmington β city, New Hanover County
- Wilson β city, Wilson County
- Wilson's Mills
- Windsor β town, Bertie County
- Winfall
- Wingate
- Winston-Salem β city, Forsyth County
- Winterville
- Winton
- Woodfin
- Woodland
- Wrightsville Beach β town, New Hanover County
Yβ»
- Yadkinville β town, Yadkin County
- Yanceyville β town, Caswell County
- Youngsville β town, Franklin County
Zβ»
- Zebulon β town, Wake County
See alsoβ»
- North Carolina statistical areas
- List of counties in North Carolina
- List of census-designated places in North Carolina
- List of unincorporated communities in North Carolina
Referencesβ»
- ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: North Carolina". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 2, 2022.
- ^ "North Carolina | Capital, Map, History, & Facts". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
- ^ "How NC Cities Work". North Carolina League of Municipalities. Retrieved February 26, 2024.
- ^ "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2022". United States Census Bureau, Population Division. Archived from the "original on July 11," 2022. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
External linksβ»