WASHINGTON, D.C. (NCN News) – The latest population data from the U.S. Census Bureau show some of North Carolina’s largest cities are getting even bigger.
The 2025 population report released Thursday (May 14), showed that Raleigh has surpassed the 500,000 population for the first time. This brings the total number of cities with 500,000 or more to 39.
As of 2010, the Capital City had a population just over 400,000 and the city passed the 450,000 mark in 2020.
Charlotte also saw a significant population jump. The Queen city gained just under 21,000 residents between 2024 and 2025, more than any other major city in the country. But, several other smaller cities in the Charlotte metro – which straddles the North Carolina-South Carolina state line, saw big jumps ranging between 25,000 to 70,000.
Similar patterns, where the growth of major cities was outpaced by surrounding midsize cities.
For example, Wendell in Wake County is listed as the fastest growing city in the state over the last fived years. Wendell has almost 20,000 residents. As recently as 2010, it had less than 6,000 residents.
Nine out of 10 of the largest population gainers in pure numbers were cities in the South because of a healthy job market and its comparative affordability. The biggest numeric gainers were Charlotte; Fort Worth, Texas; San Antonio, Texas; and Celina, Texas.
Fort Worth leaped over Jacksonville last year as the 10th most populous U.S. city, putting four Texas cities in the nation’s top 10 most populous, with the other cities being Houston, Dallas and San Antonio.
Austin skipped over San Jose for the 12th most populous spot, as Texas’ capital city surpassed 1 million residents for the first time. It is now one of a dozen U.S. cities with 1 million residents or more.
Hurricane Helene did have an impact on parts of North Carolina. Remnants of Helene blew through western North Carolina, leaving behind damaging tornadoes and flooding. Among the cities with the greatest rates of loss were Asheville, North Carolina, and several cities on Florida’s Gulf Coast also impacted by the storm, including Pinellas Park, Dunedin, Largo and Clearwater.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.