Most Populated Cities in North Carolina
Cities ranked by total population · 50 cities · Updated 2026-04-05
This ranking shows the most populated cities in North Carolina based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) 5-Year Estimates. All 50 cities are sorted by total population from highest to lowest. Charlotte leads the ranking with a value of 886,283 and a population of 886,283.
The top three cities are Charlotte (886,283), Raleigh (470,763), and Greensboro (298,564). Data is updated nightly from official Census APIs. Click any city name to view its full demographic profile, or see the national most populated cities ranking to compare across all 50 states. You can also explore all cities in North Carolina.
| Rank | City | Value | Population |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Charlotte | 886,283 | 886,283 |
| #2 | Raleigh | 470,763 | 470,763 |
| #3 | Greensboro | 298,564 | 298,564 |
| #4 | Durham | 288,465 | 288,465 |
| #5 | Winston-Salem | 250,887 | 250,887 |
| #6 | Fayetteville | 209,692 | 209,692 |
| #7 | Cary | 176,686 | 176,686 |
| #8 | Wilmington | 118,578 | 118,578 |
| #9 | High Point | 115,263 | 115,263 |
| #10 | Concord | 106,518 | 106,518 |
| #11 | Asheville | 94,369 | 94,369 |
| #12 | Greenville | 88,540 | 88,540 |
| #13 | Gastonia | 81,632 | 81,632 |
| #14 | Jacksonville | 73,507 | 73,507 |
| #15 | Apex | 67,765 | 67,765 |
| #16 | Huntersville | 62,458 | 62,458 |
| #17 | Chapel Hill | 59,889 | 59,889 |
| #18 | Burlington | 58,599 | 58,599 |
| #19 | Kannapolis | 56,470 | 56,470 |
| #20 | Rocky Mount | 54,175 | 54,175 |
| #21 | Mooresville | 51,447 | 51,447 |
| #22 | Wake Forest | 51,199 | 51,199 |
| #23 | Wilson | 47,740 | 47,740 |
| #24 | Hickory | 43,747 | 43,747 |
| #25 | Holly Springs | 43,429 | 43,429 |
| #26 | Indian Trail | 41,146 | 41,146 |
| #27 | Fuquay-Varina | 37,749 | 37,749 |
| #28 | Salisbury | 35,730 | 35,730 |
| #29 | Monroe | 35,596 | 35,596 |
| #30 | Goldsboro | 33,448 | 33,448 |
| #31 | Garner | 32,543 | 32,543 |
| #32 | Cornelius | 32,009 | 32,009 |
| #33 | New Bern | 31,563 | 31,563 |
| #34 | Sanford | 30,833 | 30,833 |
| #35 | Morrisville | 30,471 | 30,471 |
| #36 | Matthews | 29,959 | 29,959 |
| #37 | Statesville | 29,161 | 29,161 |
| #38 | Clayton | 28,043 | 28,043 |
| #39 | Kernersville | 27,439 | 27,439 |
| #40 | Asheboro | 27,353 | 27,353 |
| #41 | Thomasville | 27,261 | 27,261 |
| #42 | Mint Hill | 26,954 | 26,954 |
| #43 | Leland | 26,307 | 26,307 |
| #44 | Shelby | 21,868 | 21,868 |
| #45 | Clemmons | 21,574 | 21,574 |
| #46 | Waxhaw | 21,565 | 21,565 |
| #47 | Carrboro | 21,170 | 21,170 |
| #48 | Lexington | 19,691 | 19,691 |
| #49 | Kinston | 19,576 | 19,576 |
| #50 | Boone | 19,534 | 19,534 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What city has the most populated in North Carolina?
Charlotte ranks #1 for most populated cities in North Carolina with a value of 886,283 and a population of 886,283.
How many cities are ranked for most populated cities in North Carolina?
There are 50 cities ranked for most populated cities in North Carolina. Rankings are based on data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
How does North Carolina compare to other states for most populated cities?
You can compare North Carolina's city rankings to other states or view the national ranking at our national most populated cities page, which lists the top 100 cities across all 50 states.