Least Dense in North Carolina

Top 100 cities ranked by least dense

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All Countries · United States · North Carolina

Least Dense — North Carolina

1 Unionville 233/mi²

2 Boiling Spring Lakes 258/mi²

3 Stokesdale 312/mi²

4 Mills River 322/mi²

5 Lake Norman of Catawba 386/mi²

6 Summerfield 418/mi²

7 Trinity 418/mi²

8 Etowah 439/mi²

9 Hampstead 451/mi²

10 Oak Ridge 457/mi²

11 Oak Island 461/mi²

12 Wrightsboro 488/mi²

13 Spring Lake 492/mi²

14 Moyock 544/mi²

15 Archer Lodge 555/mi²

16 Butner 580/mi²

17 Locust 673/mi²

18 Anderson Creek 692/mi²

19 Conover 741/mi²

20 St. James 758/mi²

21 Mocksville 760/mi²

22 Sawmills 761/mi²

23 Weddington 768/mi²

24 Kings Mountain 786/mi²

25 Aberdeen 828/mi²

26 Woodfin 851/mi²

27 Forest City 858/mi²

28 Walkertown 865/mi²

29 Southern Pines 874/mi²

30 Lenoir 878/mi²

31 Mount Airy 908/mi²

32 Morganton 912/mi²

33 Wesley Chapel 918/mi²

34 Albemarle 918/mi²

35 Leland 926/mi²

36 Smithfield 929/mi²

37 Sanford 929/mi²

38 Lewisville 940/mi²

39 Swannanoa 947/mi²

40 Tarboro 950/mi²

41 Newton 958/mi²

42 Havelock 963/mi²

43 Bessemer City 968/mi²

44 Shelby 978/mi²

45 Reidsville 982/mi²

46 Lexington 1,025/mi²

47 St. Stephens 1,037/mi²

48 Statesville 1,039/mi²

49 Piney Green 1,042/mi²

50 Barbecue 1,046/mi²

51 Half Moon 1,049/mi²

52 Lumberton 1,055/mi²

53 Cherryville 1,061/mi²

54 Spout Springs 1,069/mi²

55 Kinston 1,071/mi²

56 Pinehurst 1,076/mi²

57 Eden 1,080/mi²

58 Clinton 1,084/mi²

59 Marvin 1,089/mi²

60 Mint Hill 1,096/mi²

61 Roxboro 1,099/mi²

62 New Bern 1,100/mi²

63 Monroe 1,106/mi²

64 Marion 1,118/mi²

65 Hamlet 1,139/mi²

66 Williamston 1,143/mi²

67 Cramerton 1,156/mi²

68 Waynesville 1,160/mi²

69 Goldsboro 1,170/mi²

70 Siler City 1,171/mi²

71 King 1,189/mi²

72 Rockingham 1,190/mi²

73 Washington 1,191/mi²

74 Rocky Mount 1,197/mi²

75 Zebulon 1,201/mi²

76 Laurinburg 1,202/mi²

77 Dunn 1,202/mi²

78 Nashville 1,207/mi²

79 Selma 1,222/mi²

80 Wendell 1,230/mi²

81 Lake Norman of Iredell 1,238/mi²

82 Belmont 1,239/mi²

83 Angier 1,249/mi²

84 Black Mountain 1,254/mi²

85 Fletcher 1,267/mi²

86 Lincolnton 1,282/mi²

87 Morehead City 1,309/mi²

88 Porters Neck 1,313/mi²

89 Ayden 1,322/mi²

90 Archdale 1,329/mi²

91 Whispering Pines 1,341/mi²

92 Hickory 1,355/mi²

93 Kill Devil Hills 1,377/mi²

94 Westport 1,384/mi²

95 Oxford 1,390/mi²

96 Asheboro 1,401/mi²

97 Fayetteville 1,414/mi²

98 Kernersville 1,434/mi²

99 Brevard 1,452/mi²

100 Rolesville 1,455/mi²

The least densely populated cities in North Carolina offer spacious living with more land per resident. Unionville has just 233 people per square mile. These cities provide room to spread out with larger lot sizes and more open space.

Low-density cities typically feature more single-family homes with larger yards, easier parking, and less traffic congestion. They appeal to families seeking space, privacy, and access to nature without moving to a fully rural area.

While the spread-out nature of these cities means longer drives to amenities and greater reliance on personal vehicles, many residents value the trade-off for quieter neighborhoods and a more relaxed pace of life.

Did You Know?

1. In Unionville, there are only 233 people per square mile — each resident has roughly 119,460 square feet of city space.
2. Low-density cities often have significantly lower housing costs due to more available land for development.
3. Many of the least dense cities are located in the western United States, where vast open spaces define the landscape.

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