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NCNorth Carolina rankings

Towns with the most children in North Carolina

Ranked by the share of residents under 18, a sign of family neighborhoods. 295 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year

1 Whispering Pines 34.6% Median age 37.2 2 Northchase 34.2% Median age 28.3 Map of Green Level 3 Green Level 33.9% Median age 32.0
#TownUnder 18Median ageMedian income
1 Whispering Pines5,211 people 34.6% 37.2 $126,450
2 Northchase5,896 people 34.2% 28.3 $59,375
3 Map of Green Level Green Level3,230 people 33.9% 32.0 $55,823
4 Map of Waxhaw Waxhaw22,275 people 33.1% 36.2 $131,894
5 Map of Holly Springs Holly Springs45,248 people 32.4% 36.5 $135,578
6 Anderson Creek13,927 people 32.2% 31.0 $87,287
7 St. Pauls2,688 people 31.6% 35.9 $36,800
8 East Rockingham2,779 people 30.6% 36.5 $34,355
9 Spout Springs11,242 people 30.5% 32.0 $92,402
10 Map of Conover Conover8,580 people 30.5% 36.8 $65,972
11 Dana4,147 people 30.1% 40.7 $60,450
12 Hampstead9,292 people 29.8% 35.8 $91,745
13 Map of Marvin Marvin6,692 people 29.8% 41.0 $250,001
14 Map of Neuse Forest Neuse Forest2,671 people 29.8% 36.2 $84,500
15 Emma2,657 people 29.5% 29.7 $43,907
16 Map of Weddington Weddington13,805 people 29.4% 43.3 $190,766
17 Brogden2,733 people 29.4% 30.5 $42,074
18 Mountain View3,982 people 29.2% 42.1 $71,792
19 Apex70,630 people 29.1% 36.4 $144,135
20 Map of Rockfish Rockfish3,574 people 29% 33.6 $64,476
21 Pembroke2,822 people 28.9% 24.2 $25,889
22 Map of Rolesville Rolesville10,766 people 28.8% 40.6 $149,565
23 Map of Troutman Troutman3,995 people 28.8% 35.8 $98,462
24 Map of Lumberton Lumberton18,859 people 28.7% 34.6 $42,877
25 Map of Piney Green Piney Green14,078 people 28.5% 30.1 $72,177
26 Lewisville Lewisville13,828 people 28.5% 40.8 $100,917
27 Map of Randleman Randleman4,644 people 28.5% 37.4 $53,456
28 Fuquay-Varina40,485 people 28.4% 37.0 $115,497
29 Map of Sylva Sylva2,646 people 28.4% 31.4 $44,086
30 Hope Mills17,939 people 28.3% 34.0 $65,774
31 Map of Murfreesboro Murfreesboro3,170 people 28.3% 25.7 $39,914
32 Map of Half Moon Half Moon7,378 people 28.2% 28.3 $68,946
33 Map of Knightdale Knightdale20,214 people 28.1% 33.6 $103,220
34 Mar-Mac2,877 people 28.1% 39.0 $53,819
35 Map of Farmville Farmville4,514 people 28% 41.4 $47,410
36 Map of Yadkinville Yadkinville3,004 people 28% 34.6 $53,125
37 Sanford Sanford31,478 people 27.9% 34.7 $57,586
38 Map of Oak Ridge Oak Ridge7,744 people 27.6% 44.2 $155,385
39 Briar Chapel6,049 people 27.6% 42.0 $166,063
40 Red Springs3,125 people 27.4% 32.7 $20,833
41 Tobaccoville Tobaccoville2,664 people 27.4% 40.7 $80,263
42 Harrisburg Harrisburg19,633 people 27.1% 40.1 $148,254
43 Map of East Flat Rock East Flat Rock6,323 people 27.1% 36.4 $59,583
44 Concord Concord108,719 people 26.8% 36.5 $86,921
45 Map of Summerfield Summerfield11,116 people 26.8% 44.0 $160,275
46 Wesley Chapel Wesley Chapel9,090 people 26.7% 41.7 $132,188
47 Siler City7,995 people 26.7% 35.6 $46,566
48 Forest City Forest City7,363 people 26.6% 35.1 $35,524
49 Map of Ahoskie Ahoskie4,764 people 26.6% 37.2 $40,987
50 Edneyville2,716 people 26.6% 37.5 $53,818
51 Wake Forest Wake Forest52,844 people 26.5% 38.6 $123,802
52 Aberdeen9,228 people 26.5% 35.8 $75,078
53 Map of Franklinton Franklinton2,645 people 26.5% 38.4 $59,464
54 Map of Ranlo Ranlo4,617 people 26.3% 35.0 $78,033
55 Rockwell Rockwell2,782 people 26.3% 37.2 $69,632
56 Map of Clayton Clayton29,320 people 26.2% 33.0 $78,822
57 Map of Unionville Unionville6,954 people 26.2% 39.0 $96,028
58 Map of Forest Oaks Forest Oaks4,293 people 26.2% 48.4 $107,604
59 Map of Marshville Marshville2,615 people 26.1% 40.1 $57,837
60 Indian Trail Indian Trail42,036 people 26% 36.2 $108,483
61 Rockingham8,967 people 25.8% 39.2 $37,224
62 Archer Lodge Archer Lodge5,186 people 25.7% 42.3 $91,188
63 Pineville Pineville11,055 people 25.5% 33.4 $69,354
64 Map of Bayshore Bayshore2,949 people 25.5% 41.9 $94,632
65 Gibsonville9,467 people 25.3% 39.8 $95,861
66 Map of Kings Mountain Kings Mountain12,039 people 25.2% 37.2 $49,564
67 Spring Lake11,573 people 25.2% 26.1 $51,958
68 Map of Cherryville Cherryville6,226 people 25.2% 38.0 $70,625
69 Whiteville4,696 people 25.2% 35.7 $31,167
70 Asheboro Asheboro27,580 people 25.1% 37.3 $47,197
71 Fairview3,619 people 25.1% 39.7 $98,808
72 Haw River2,824 people 25.1% 32.4 $61,058
73 Lexington Lexington19,690 people 25% 36.7 $43,128
74 Map of Pleasant Garden Pleasant Garden5,060 people 25% 38.8 $88,204
75 Cramerton5,450 people 24.9% 34.0 $82,160
76 Map of Laurinburg Laurinburg15,087 people 24.8% 37.4 $42,170
77 Henderson14,885 people 24.7% 37.7 $39,969
78 Map of Granite Falls Granite Falls4,929 people 24.7% 40.7 $56,917
79 Map of Raeford Raeford4,552 people 24.7% 37.0 $46,494
80 Map of La Grange La Grange2,756 people 24.7% 35.3 $48,078
81 Gastonia82,884 people 24.6% 36.5 $64,059
82 Monroe Monroe36,759 people 24.5% 35.5 $72,540
83 Map of Roanoke Rapids Roanoke Rapids14,856 people 24.5% 40.3 $53,690
84 Morganton17,646 people 24.4% 37.8 $51,355
85 Mooresville Mooresville52,381 people 24.3% 35.8 $89,647
86 Map of Reidsville Reidsville14,585 people 24.3% 42.0 $42,921
87 Swepsonville Swepsonville2,517 people 24.3% 38.6 $100,559
88 Huntersville Huntersville63,969 people 24.2% 40.1 $120,516
89 Map of Trinity Trinity7,111 people 24.2% 42.0 $82,664
90 Map of Skippers Corner Skippers Corner3,792 people 24.1% 42.5 $72,297
91 Myrtle Grove12,637 people 24% 42.7 $113,463
92 Creedmoor Creedmoor4,997 people 24% 40.5 $82,961
93 Boiling Springs Boiling Springs4,757 people 24% 22.4 $89,875
94 Benson Benson4,282 people 24% 35.6 $67,102
95 Zebulon8,711 people 23.9% 38.3 $79,112
96 Fayetteville210,815 people 23.8% 30.6 $58,407
97 Map of Stokesdale Stokesdale6,004 people 23.8% 45.7 $121,071
98 Locust5,840 people 23.8% 36.2 $76,504
99 Map of Wendell Wendell13,064 people 23.7% 38.0 $95,787
100 Ayden5,150 people 23.7% 41.9 $42,413
101 Map of Swansboro Swansboro3,997 people 23.7% 44.7 $114,425
102 Liberty Liberty2,682 people 23.7% 36.1 $39,663
103 Map of Enochville Enochville3,321 people 23.6% 38.0 $66,225
104 Map of Burlington Burlington59,610 people 23.5% 40.1 $56,880
105 Mebane19,538 people 23.5% 38.5 $83,174
106 Swannanoa Swannanoa6,901 people 23.5% 37.1 $69,760
107 Map of Cary Cary179,306 people 23.4% 40.2 $134,905
108 Map of Havelock Havelock17,691 people 23.4% 24.7 $58,408
109 Map of Grifton Grifton2,515 people 23.4% 35.6 $36,794
110 Mount Holly Mount Holly18,208 people 23.3% 39.0 $79,385
111 Map of Shelby Shelby22,100 people 23.2% 39.3 $48,376
112 Clemmons21,871 people 23.2% 41.8 $87,655
113 Map of Winston-Salem Winston-Salem252,037 people 23% 35.9 $59,268
114 Morrisville31,422 people 23% 35.2 $125,396
115 Lincolnton Lincolnton11,783 people 23% 37.1 $46,320
116 Wilson48,370 people 22.9% 39.5 $52,485
117 Map of St. Stephens St. Stephens9,457 people 22.9% 43.2 $60,394
118 Map of Oxford Oxford8,914 people 22.9% 42.6 $43,054
119 Clinton8,304 people 22.9% 39.9 $44,953
120 Map of Mocksville Mocksville6,068 people 22.9% 42.7 $55,367
121 Barbecue5,910 people 22.9% 35.0 $79,426
122 Map of Walkertown Walkertown5,873 people 22.8% 38.2 $82,615
123 Bessemer City Bessemer City5,580 people 22.8% 34.3 $60,300
124 Map of Sawmills Sawmills5,042 people 22.8% 38.8 $71,067
125 Map of Charlotte Charlotte903,844 people 22.7% 34.5 $82,068
126 Lake Norman of Iredell12,494 people 22.7% 48.3 $173,542
127 Map of Smithfield Smithfield12,116 people 22.7% 44.9 $43,270
128 Hamlet5,961 people 22.7% 39.5 $41,590
129 Winterville10,725 people 22.6% 36.5 $83,193
130 Hillsborough Hillsborough9,724 people 22.6% 42.5 $98,163
131 Map of Statesville Statesville29,894 people 22.5% 37.1 $52,880
132 Map of Thomasville Thomasville27,321 people 22.5% 38.3 $60,935
133 New Bern32,734 people 22.4% 38.9 $61,031
134 Map of Kernersville Kernersville27,830 people 22.4% 39.3 $71,918
135 Nashville5,729 people 22.4% 40.7 $61,000
136 Moyock5,684 people 22.4% 38.6 $115,244
137 Map of Glen Raven Glen Raven3,506 people 22.4% 31.8 $63,173
138 Cajah's Mountain2,704 people 22.4% 40.3 $53,361
139 Kannapolis Kannapolis57,890 people 22.3% 36.9 $73,836
140 Map of Goldsboro Goldsboro34,383 people 22.3% 36.8 $48,540
141 Eden15,356 people 22.2% 36.8 $47,260
142 Lillington4,709 people 22.2% 37.2 $81,760
143 Map of Wilkesboro Wilkesboro3,646 people 22.2% 47.9 $40,907
144 Map of Wadesboro Wadesboro4,972 people 22.1% 43.3 $42,667
145 Tyro3,833 people 22.1% 36.4 $58,364
146 Map of High Point High Point116,245 people 22% 37.7 $64,561
147 Map of Rocky Mount Rocky Mount54,297 people 22% 40.7 $55,534
148 Map of China Grove China Grove4,530 people 22% 39.2 $54,083
149 Elkin Elkin4,043 people 22% 41.6 $60,740
150 Map of Lake Junaluska Lake Junaluska3,175 people 22% 46.8 $66,165
151 Map of Carthage Carthage2,896 people 22% 44.7 $82,695
152 Map of Salisbury Salisbury35,825 people 21.9% 36.5 $53,716
153 Albemarle Albemarle16,762 people 21.9% 39.5 $46,881
154 Butner8,065 people 21.9% 40.3 $74,739
155 Surf City4,396 people 21.9% 36.9 $81,433
156 Map of Cornelius Cornelius32,783 people 21.8% 44.0 $113,767
157 Kinston19,505 people 21.8% 42.9 $36,878
158 Map of King King7,408 people 21.8% 42.3 $57,817
159 Map of Plymouth Plymouth3,250 people 21.8% 48.6 $34,521
160 Map of Greensboro Greensboro301,198 people 21.7% 34.3 $61,515
161 Mills River Mills River7,281 people 21.7% 46.4 $105,398
162 Wrightsboro Wrightsboro6,287 people 21.7% 38.0 $78,450
163 Midland4,860 people 21.6% 38.9 $101,477
164 Belville2,573 people 21.6% 32.9 $81,944
165 Map of Rutherfordton Rutherfordton3,680 people 21.5% 38.9 $59,375
166 Map of Hickory Hickory44,258 people 21.3% 37.5 $64,576
167 Map of Matthews Matthews30,577 people 21.3% 40.1 $108,611
168 Map of Carrboro Carrboro21,204 people 21.2% 33.4 $85,743
169 Elizabeth City Elizabeth City18,871 people 21.2% 36.5 $52,141
170 Map of Mount Airy Mount Airy10,633 people 21.2% 46.0 $40,275
171 Map of Royal Pines Royal Pines4,325 people 21.2% 41.0 $107,885
172 Eastover Eastover3,666 people 21.2% 49.3 $85,156
173 Stallings16,886 people 21.1% 40.8 $115,974
174 Dunn8,559 people 21.1% 43.2 $46,830
175 Map of Mars Hill Mars Hill3,025 people 21.1% 27.6 $81,429
176 Map of Newton Newton13,333 people 21% 38.2 $62,015
177 Wallace3,457 people 21% 43.6 $51,250
178 Graham Graham18,048 people 20.9% 37.8 $56,239
179 Map of Selma Selma6,817 people 20.9% 34.1 $41,368
180 Map of Westport Westport5,915 people 20.9% 44.0 $131,908
181 Map of Lowell Lowell3,768 people 20.8% 41.3 $52,500
182 Map of Holly Ridge Holly Ridge4,904 people 20.7% 38.1 $104,788
183 Map of Stanley Stanley4,069 people 20.7% 36.9 $75,461
184 Valley Hill2,675 people 20.7% 46.0 $86,599
185 Map of Silver Lake Silver Lake6,563 people 20.6% 42.9 $76,756
186 Map of Mineral Springs Mineral Springs3,314 people 20.6% 45.5 $91,500
187 Southern Pines Southern Pines16,420 people 20.5% 38.7 $88,535
188 Map of Avery Creek Avery Creek2,887 people 20.4% 40.8 $113,261
189 Map of Louisburg Louisburg3,263 people 20.3% 37.4 $38,036
190 Roxboro8,182 people 20.2% 45.3 $36,553
191 Angier6,241 people 20.2% 39.9 $52,214
192 Durham Durham291,467 people 20.1% 35.1 $81,619
193 Davidson Davidson15,660 people 20.1% 41.9 $166,556
194 Williamston Williamston5,112 people 20.1% 45.4 $38,738
195 Map of Oakboro Oakboro2,683 people 20.1% 38.9 $69,100
196 Mint Hill Mint Hill27,556 people 20% 45.1 $100,860
197 Wentworth2,692 people 20% 44.3 $68,500
198 Belmont15,546 people 19.9% 39.4 $94,883
199 Map of Wallburg Wallburg3,150 people 19.9% 47.2 $88,406
200 Raleigh Raleigh481,031 people 19.8% 34.7 $85,395
201 Map of Cape Carteret Cape Carteret2,703 people 19.8% 46.3 $86,136
202 Map of Etowah Etowah7,968 people 19.7% 45.5 $72,596
203 Sneads Ferry2,728 people 19.7% 37.9 $79,594
204 Garner34,473 people 19.6% 37.7 $78,756
205 Lenoir18,299 people 19.5% 45.7 $49,910
206 Map of Archdale Archdale12,087 people 19.5% 46.1 $64,757
207 Edenton Edenton4,494 people 19.5% 46.7 $38,417
208 Map of Lake Park Lake Park3,431 people 19.5% 43.6 $66,411
209 Elizabethtown3,277 people 19.5% 51.8 $29,375
210 Newport4,441 people 19.4% 44.1 $56,351
211 Burgaw3,850 people 19.4% 44.8 $67,853
212 Rural Hall3,466 people 19.4% 42.1 $51,054
213 Map of Kill Devil Hills Kill Devil Hills7,761 people 19.3% 48.5 $89,773
214 Map of Jacksonville Jacksonville71,279 people 19.2% 23.4 $57,697
215 Map of Ogden Ogden8,249 people 19.2% 45.0 $121,338
216 Map of Tarboro Tarboro10,770 people 19.1% 51.2 $49,796
217 Marion Marion7,579 people 19.1% 39.1 $51,314
218 Map of Kitty Hawk Kitty Hawk3,724 people 19.1% 49.3 $94,450
219 Map of Landis Landis3,765 people 19% 40.2 $75,000
220 Map of Spencer Spencer3,349 people 19% 44.2 $65,465
221 Map of Greenville Greenville92,857 people 18.8% 27.3 $49,748
222 Red Oak3,405 people 18.8% 49.5 $90,214
223 Canton4,419 people 18.6% 36.7 $69,924
224 Elroy3,251 people 18.6% 45.0 $63,238
225 Maiden Maiden3,788 people 18.5% 41.9 $75,511
226 Map of Dallas Dallas6,104 people 18.4% 40.9 $58,403
227 Map of Lowesville Lowesville3,874 people 18.4% 43.2 $113,510
228 Erwin4,687 people 18.3% 47.1 $50,701
229 Map of Granite Quarry Granite Quarry3,043 people 18.3% 38.6 $57,981
230 Shallotte4,639 people 18.1% 45.5 $88,367
231 Boiling Spring Lakes6,347 people 18% 47.1 $62,676
232 Map of Valdese Valdese4,704 people 18% 52.6 $50,740
233 Tabor City Tabor City3,777 people 18% 41.2 $38,714
234 Map of Welcome Welcome3,521 people 17.9% 41.6 $63,353
235 Lake Norman of Catawba9,906 people 17.8% 51.2 $112,656
236 Map of Washington Washington9,726 people 17.8% 46.8 $40,186
237 Morehead City Morehead City9,806 people 17.6% 44.2 $56,233
238 Map of North Wilkesboro North Wilkesboro4,421 people 17.6% 43.1 $38,474
239 Map of Jonesville Jonesville2,860 people 17.5% 40.9 $29,837
240 Murraysville Murraysville16,339 people 17.3% 38.7 $81,167
241 Porters Neck7,654 people 17.3% 50.6 $119,979
242 Wingate Wingate4,425 people 17.2% 21.8 $63,068
243 Fletcher Fletcher8,098 people 17.1% 41.7 $75,272
244 Pittsboro Pittsboro4,752 people 17.1% 43.0 $81,639
245 Map of Jamestown Jamestown3,708 people 17% 43.4 $104,844
246 Kings Grant Kings Grant9,003 people 16.7% 37.4 $62,232
247 Midway4,897 people 16.6% 48.3 $83,446
248 Gamewell3,689 people 16.5% 46.7 $46,556
249 Map of Wilmington Wilmington120,805 people 16.4% 37.1 $66,738
250 Leland29,607 people 16.3% 47.3 $91,977
251 Pinehurst Pinehurst18,256 people 16.3% 60.6 $109,802
252 Warsaw2,746 people 16.1% 38.9 $54,297
253 Long View Long View5,011 people 15.9% 43.5 $46,739
254 Map of Troy Troy2,926 people 15.9% 36.9 $51,731
255 Waynesville10,502 people 15.8% 46.0 $54,923
256 Brevard Brevard7,897 people 15.8% 50.3 $54,103
257 Mount Olive4,453 people 15.6% 42.9 $48,700
258 Map of Trent Woods Trent Woods4,032 people 15.6% 57.8 $107,802
259 Hendersonville Hendersonville15,408 people 15.3% 53.2 $53,449
260 Chapel Hill Chapel Hill61,607 people 14.9% 25.8 $85,989
261 Map of James City James City4,789 people 14.9% 51.7 $58,973
262 River Road3,366 people 14.9% 47.0 $46,352
263 Map of Asheville Asheville94,535 people 14.8% 40.7 $71,102
264 Map of Hudson Hudson3,772 people 14.6% 45.1 $65,268
265 Beaufort4,689 people 14.5% 55.0 $53,321
266 Weaverville Weaverville4,687 people 14.4% 54.8 $88,221
267 Bermuda Run3,211 people 14.4% 61.6 $69,301
268 Polkton Polkton2,555 people 14.3% 36.3 $47,059
269 Map of Franklin Franklin4,268 people 14.2% 48.1 $47,888
270 Brices Creek3,415 people 13.9% 55.0 $85,723
271 Spindale Spindale4,131 people 13.6% 44.9 $41,262
272 Carolina Beach6,745 people 13.4% 53.2 $94,398
273 Map of Bethlehem Bethlehem4,101 people 13.3% 52.7 $87,795
274 Map of Woodfin Woodfin8,048 people 12.8% 42.4 $71,384
275 Wrightsville Beach Wrightsville Beach2,665 people 12.7% 58.0 $151,563
276 Lake Royale3,168 people 12.2% 47.9 $107,806
277 Map of Mountain Home Mountain Home3,437 people 12.1% 50.5 $83,083
278 Southern Shores Southern Shores3,139 people 12% 58.7 $131,429
279 Map of Black Mountain Black Mountain8,513 people 11.9% 58.4 $77,042
280 Map of Nags Head Nags Head3,160 people 11.4% 58.4 $91,264
281 Southport4,205 people 11.3% 64.2 $87,641
282 Emerald Isle3,934 people 11.1% 60.3 $89,773
283 Map of Seven Lakes Seven Lakes4,535 people 10.8% 62.2 $91,085
284 Map of Elon Elon11,032 people 10.7% 21.2 $84,773
285 Map of Windsor Windsor3,269 people 10.7% 42.1 $40,714
286 River Bend2,874 people 10.1% 53.1 $71,824
287 Map of Fairfield Harbour Fairfield Harbour2,948 people 8.3% 62.2 $72,583
288 Carolina Shores5,017 people 7.6% 65.3 $76,087
289 Flat Rock Flat Rock3,530 people 7.5% 67.1 $95,098
290 Oak Island Oak Island9,030 people 7.1% 62.3 $85,872
291 Map of Buies Creek Buies Creek3,746 people 6.9% 22.3 $53,933
292 Map of Boone Boone20,032 people 5% 21.3 $30,065
293 Cullowhee Cullowhee7,973 people 4.4% 21.0 $35,929
294 Sunset Beach Sunset Beach4,351 people 3.6% 69.1 $81,976
295 St. James7,072 people 2.1% 68.0 $116,383

How this ranking works

We rank every town by the share of residents under 18, a sign of family neighborhoods. The town with the highest figure ranks #1. For comparison, the figure for North Carolina as a whole is 21.8%.

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states

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