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Largest cities in North Carolina, 2010 to 2025

Charlotte: 964,784 residents in 2025, ahead of Raleigh (506,306). Compare North Carolina city-limit populations since 2010.

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What the data shows

  • In 2025, Charlotte ranks #1 with 965K, ahead of Raleigh (506K) and Greensboro (309K).
  • Charlotte holds #1 for the whole period, 2010 to 2025.

About this chart

Charlotte leads North Carolina with 964,784 residents in 2025, ahead of Raleigh by 458,478. Raleigh has 506,306 people, while Greensboro ranks third with 308,667. The ranking uses incorporated-place populations rather than metropolitan areas. Charlotte had 738,446 residents in 2010, so its city-limit count grew by 30.7% over the displayed period. Charlotte was the largest of these places at the start of the series.

The annual Census estimates describe July 1 populations within the boundaries of each incorporated place in North Carolina. The series joins Vintage 2020 estimates for 2010–2019 with Vintage 2025 estimates from 2020 onward. Boundary changes and revisions can affect the trend. Unincorporated communities and census-designated places are excluded, and the ranking does not measure the population of the wider urban or commuting region. Every place that entered the annual top ten remains in the chart.

The data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Incorporated places only, not metro areas. Census towns and unincorporated census-designated places are excluded; this is not a ranking of every local jurisdiction. Boundary and vintage changes can affect comparisons.

Largest cities in North Carolina, City-limit population, 2010 to 2025, 2010–2025
DateCharlotteRaleighGreensboroDurhamWinston-SalemFayettevilleCaryWilmingtonHigh PointGreenvilleAshevilleConcord
2010738K406K270K232K230K208K137K107K105K85K83.4K79.5K
2011755K414K272K236K232K209K142K108K106K86.2K84.4K80.7K
2012774K423K276K242K234K209K146K110K107K87.6K85.3K82.1K
2013792K432K279K248K236K211K151K112K108K88.8K86.4K83.4K
2014808K440K282K254K239K210K156K113K109K89.2K87.8K85.4K
2015826K450K285K260K240K210K160K115K110K90.5K89.4K87.5K
2016844K460K289K267K242K211K163K119K112K90.9K91.2K89.8K
2017861K466K292K271K245K210K166K121K112K92K91.8K92.1K
2018874K470K295K276K247K211K168K123K112K92.7K92.7K94.1K
2019888K474K297K281K248K212K171K124K113K93.7K93.1K96.2K
2020875K466K296K282K249K211K175K116K115K90.9K94.4K105K
2021883K472K298K287K250K212K177K118K115K91.7K94.2K107K
2022898K475K301K291K251K211K180K121K116K92.7K94K109K
2023918K491K303K295K253K210K181K124K117K93.7K95.2K110K
2024944K499K306K301K256K209K182K125K118K95.3K95.1K113K
2025965K506K309K306K257K209K184K127K121K96.4K93.5K115K

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Frequently asked questions

What is the largest city in North Carolina?

In 2025, Charlotte ranks #1 with 965K, followed by Raleigh (506K) and Greensboro (309K). Source: U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people.

What is the largest city in North Carolina?

Charlotte is the largest incorporated place in North Carolina, with 964,784 residents in the Census July 1, 2025 estimates. Raleigh follows with 506,306.

How has the population of Charlotte changed?

Its city-limit population moved from 738,446 in 2010 to 964,784 in 2025, a 30.7% increase. Boundary changes and Census revisions can contribute to differences.

Does this ranking include metro areas?

No. It compares incorporated places within North Carolina, not metropolitan areas. Census-designated places and other unincorporated communities are excluded.

Where does this data come from?

U.S. Census Bureau, city and town population estimates (Vintage 2020 for 2010–2019, Vintage 2025 for 2020–2025), incorporated places, July 1, people. Retrieved November 5, 2026. Incorporated places only, not metro areas. Census towns and unincorporated census-designated places are excluded; this is not a ranking of every local jurisdiction. Boundary and vintage changes can affect comparisons. You can download the full table as a CSV from this page.

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