List of municipalities in North Carolina

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North Carolina is a state located in the Southern United States. According to the 2020 United States census, North Carolina is the 9th-most populous state with Template:Nts inhabitants, while the 28th-largest by land area spanning Template:Convert of land.<ref name="2020 Census">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> North Carolina is divided into 100 counties and contains 551 municipalities consisting of cities, towns, or villages.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The three different terms have no legal distinction.

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Most populous municipalities

Charlotte, most populous city in North Carolina
Raleigh, capital city of North Carolina
Greensboro
Durham
Winston-Salem
Fayetteville
Cary
Wilmington
High Point
Concord
Asheville
Greenville

Template:Quote box Below is a list of the 50 most populous municipalities in North Carolina according to the 2020 census and 2023 census estimate.<ref name=PopEstCities>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Name	Template:Abbr (2023)	Population (2020)	Change
Charlotte†	Template:Change	City	Mecklenburg
Raleigh‡	Template:Change	City	Wake (seat), Durham
Greensboro†	Template:Change	City	Guilford
Durham†	Template:Change	City	Durham (seat), Wake, Orange
Winston-Salem†	Template:Change	City	Forsyth
Fayetteville†	Template:Change	City	Cumberland
Cary	Template:Change	Town	Wake, Chatham, Durham
Wilmington†	Template:Change	City	New Hanover
High Point	Template:Change	City	Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, Forsyth
Concord†	Template:Change	City	Cabarrus
Asheville†	Template:Change	City	Buncombe
Greenville†	Template:Change	City	Pitt
Gastonia†	Template:Change	City	Gaston
Jacksonville†	Template:Change	City	Onslow
Apex	Template:Change	Town	Wake
Huntersville	Template:Change	Town	Mecklenburg
Chapel Hill	Template:Change	Town	Orange, Durham
Burlington	Template:Change	City	Alamance
Kannapolis	Template:Change	City	Cabarrus, Rowan
Wake Forest	Template:Change	Town	Wake, Franklin
Rocky Mount	Template:Change	City	Edgecombe, Nash
Mooresville	Template:Change	Town	Iredell
Wilson†	Template:Change	City	Wilson
Holly Springs	Template:Change	Town	Wake
Hickory	Template:Change	City	Catawba, Burke, Caldwell
Fuquay-Varina	Template:Change	Town	Wake
Indian Trail	Template:Change	Town	Union
Monroe†	Template:Change	City	Union
Salisbury†	Template:Change	City	Rowan
Garner	Template:Change	Town	Wake
Goldsboro†	Template:Change	City	Wayne
Cornelius	Template:Change	Town	Mecklenburg
New Bern†	Template:Change	City	Craven
Sanford†	Template:Change	City	Lee
Morrisville	Template:Change	Town	Wake, Durham
Matthews	Template:Change	Town	Mecklenburg
Leland	Template:Change	Town	Brunswick
Statesville†	Template:Change	City	Iredell
Clayton	Template:Change	Town	Johnston, Wake
Kernersville	Template:Change	Town	Forsyth, Guilford
Mint Hill	Template:Change	Town	Mecklenburg, Union
Asheboro†	Template:Change	City	Randolph
Thomasville	Template:Change	City	Davidson, Randolph
Waxhaw	Template:Change	Town	Union
Clemmons	Template:Change	Village	Forsyth
Shelby†	Template:Change	City	Cleveland
Carrboro	Template:Change	Town	Orange
Knightdale	Template:Change	Town	Wake
Mebane	Template:Change	City	Alamance, Orange
Harrisburg	Template:Change	Town	Cabarrus