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North Carolina rankings

Every ranking is built from official statistics and opens the cities behind it.

Charlotte (903,844 residents)Raleigh (481,031 residents)Greensboro (301,198 residents)Durham (291,467 residents)Winston-Salem (252,037 residents)Fayetteville (210,815 residents)Cary (179,306 residents)Wilmington (120,805 residents)High Point (116,245 residents)Concord (108,719 residents)Asheville (94,535 residents)Greenville (92,857 residents)Gastonia (82,884 residents)Jacksonville (71,279 residents)Apex (70,630 residents)Huntersville (63,969 residents)Chapel Hill (61,607 residents)Burlington (59,610 residents)Kannapolis (57,890 residents)Rocky Mount (54,297 residents)Wake Forest (52,844 residents)Mooresville (52,381 residents)Wilson (48,370 residents)Holly Springs (45,248 residents)Hickory (44,258 residents)Indian Trail (42,036 residents)Fuquay-Varina (40,485 residents)Monroe (36,759 residents)Salisbury (35,825 residents)Garner (34,473 residents)Goldsboro (34,383 residents)Cornelius (32,783 residents)New Bern (32,734 residents)Sanford (31,478 residents)Morrisville (31,422 residents)Matthews (30,577 residents)Statesville (29,894 residents)Leland (29,607 residents)Clayton (29,320 residents)Kernersville (27,830 residents)Asheboro (27,580 residents)Mint Hill (27,556 residents)Thomasville (27,321 residents)Waxhaw (22,275 residents)Shelby (22,100 residents)Clemmons (21,871 residents)Carrboro (21,204 residents)Knightdale (20,214 residents)Boone (20,032 residents)Lexington (19,690 residents)Harrisburg (19,633 residents)Mebane (19,538 residents)Kinston (19,505 residents)Elizabeth City (18,871 residents)Lumberton (18,859 residents)Lenoir (18,299 residents)Pinehurst (18,256 residents)Mount Holly (18,208 residents)Graham (18,048 residents)Hope Mills (17,939 residents)Havelock (17,691 residents)Morganton (17,646 residents)Stallings (16,886 residents)Albemarle (16,762 residents)Southern Pines (16,420 residents)Murraysville (16,339 residents)Davidson (15,660 residents)Belmont (15,546 residents)Hendersonville (15,408 residents)Eden (15,356 residents)Laurinburg (15,087 residents)Henderson (14,885 residents)Roanoke Rapids (14,856 residents)Reidsville (14,585 residents)Piney Green (14,078 residents)Anderson Creek (13,927 residents)Lewisville (13,828 residents)Weddington (13,805 residents)Newton (13,333 residents)Wendell (13,064 residents)Myrtle Grove (12,637 residents)Lake Norman of Iredell (12,494 residents)Smithfield (12,116 residents)Archdale (12,087 residents)Kings Mountain (12,039 residents)Lincolnton (11,783 residents)Spring Lake (11,573 residents)Spout Springs (11,242 residents)Summerfield (11,116 residents)Pineville (11,055 residents)Elon (11,032 residents)Tarboro (10,770 residents)Rolesville (10,766 residents)Winterville (10,725 residents)Mount Airy (10,633 residents)Waynesville (10,502 residents)Lake Norman of Catawba (9,906 residents)Morehead City (9,806 residents)Washington (9,726 residents)Hillsborough (9,724 residents)
Map of North Carolina: the 100 largest cities

Click any dot to open that city: jobs, pay, rent, commute, county economy and climate. Dot size follows population; colours follow the state flag.

Open the sortable tables of all 100 cities →

By AtiveSite · Published 07/11/2026 · Updated 07/11/2026 · Every figure is linked to its source below.

🆕 Work guides: live jobs + official data, law, permits, pay and cost of living. United States · North Carolina · all 100 cities + map → · all 100 counties → · North Carolina rankings · all 51 states → · 200 largest companies · 240 best job niches · Federal jobs in North Carolina

CITY + METRO Official statistics Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year (via Census Reporter) · BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 · Data: ACS 2020–2024; OEWS May 2025

City rankings

Largest Cities in North Carolina

Ranked by population.

Cities With the Cheapest Rent in North Carolina

Ranked by median rent a month.

Cities With the Highest Household Income in North Carolina

Ranked by median household income.

Cities Where Rent Takes the Smallest Share of Income in North Carolina

Ranked by yearly rent as share of income.

Cities With the Lowest Unemployment in North Carolina

Ranked by unemployment (acs).

Cities in the Highest-Paying Counties in North Carolina

Ranked by county average annual pay.

Most College-Educated Cities in North Carolina

Ranked by bachelor's degree or higher.

Cities With the Most Homeowners in North Carolina

Ranked by homeowners (share of households).

Cities With the Most Remote Work in North Carolina

Ranked by work from home.

Cities With the Shortest Commutes in North Carolina

Ranked by commute of 45 minutes or more.

Best metro areas by occupation

Best North Carolina metro areas for retail salespersons

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for laborers and freight, stock, and material movers, hand

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for registered nurses

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for cashiers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for fast food and counter workers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for customer service representatives

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for stockers and order fillers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for cooks, fast food

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for waiters and waitresses

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for office clerks, general

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for nursing assistants

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for general and operations managers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for home health and personal care aides

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Best North Carolina metro areas for software developers

Pay and jobs by metro area.

Sources

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