# North Carolina statistical areas

The U.S. State of North Carolina currently has 48 statistical areas that have been delineated by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). On July 21, 2023, the OMB delineated nine combined statistical areas, 15 metropolitan statistical areas, and 24 micropolitan statistical areas in North Carolina. As of 2023, the largest of these is the Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA, comprising the state's largest city of Charlotte and its suburbs.

## Background

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has designated more than 1,000 statistical areas for the United States and Puerto Rico. These statistical areas are important geographic delineations of population clusters used by the OMB, the United States Census Bureau, planning organizations, and federal, state, and local government entities.
The OMB defines a core-based statistical area (commonly referred to as a CBSA) as the county or counties (or county-equivalents) surrounding at least one densely-settled core of at least 10,000 population, "plus adjacent counties having a high degree of social and economic integration with the core as measured through commuting ties with the counties containing the core". The OMB further divides core-based statistical areas based on population into metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) for those with at least 50,000 and micropolitan statistical areas (μSAs) for those with 10,000 to 49,999 people.
The OMB defines a combined statistical area (CSA) as two or more adjacent core-based statistical areas where the employment interchange rate (% commuting from A to B plus % commuting from B to A) is at least 15%. The primary statistical areas (PSAs) include all combined statistical areas and any core-based statistical area that is not a constituent of a combined statistical area.

## Table

The 48 United States statistical areas and 100 counties of the State of North Carolina :
| Combined statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | Core-based statistical area | 2023 population (est.) | County | 2023 population (est.) |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Mecklenburg County, North Carolina | 1,163,701 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | York County, South Carolina | 298,320 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Union County, North Carolina | 256,452 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Cabarrus County, North Carolina | 240,016 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Gaston County, North Carolina | 237,242 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Iredell County, North Carolina | 199,710 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Rowan County, North Carolina | 151,661 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Lancaster County, South Carolina | 108,215 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Lincoln County, North Carolina | 95,675 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Chester County, South Carolina | 32,226 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 2,366,354 (NC) | Anson County, North Carolina | 21,897 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA | 370,030 | Catawba County, North Carolina | 164,645 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA | 370,030 | Burke County, North Carolina | 88,338 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA | 370,030 | Caldwell County, North Carolina | 80,574 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA | 370,030 | Alexander County, North Carolina | 36,473 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC μSA | 101,378 | Cleveland County, North Carolina | 101,378 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Albemarle, NC μSA | 65,699 | Stanly County, North Carolina | 65,699 |
| Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 2,948,354 (NC) | Marion, NC μSA | 44,893 | McDowell County, North Carolina | 44,893 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA | 1,509,231 | Wake County, North Carolina | 1,190,275 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA | 1,509,231 | Johnston County, North Carolina | 241,955 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA | 1,509,231 | Franklin County, North Carolina | 77,001 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA | 608,879 | Durham County, North Carolina | 336,892 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA | 608,879 | Orange County, North Carolina | 150,626 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA | 608,879 | Chatham County, North Carolina | 81,624 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA | 608,879 | Person County, North Carolina | 39,737 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Anderson Creek, NC μSA | 141,477 | Harnett County, North Carolina | 141,477 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Sanford, NC μSA | 67,059 | Lee County, North Carolina | 67,059 |
| Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | Henderson, NC μSA | 42,301 | Vance County, North Carolina | 42,301 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA | 789,842 | Guilford County, North Carolina | 549,866 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA | 789,842 | Randolph County, North Carolina | 147,458 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA | 789,842 | Rockingham County, North Carolina | 92,518 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | Forsyth County, North Carolina | 392,921 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | Davidson County, North Carolina | 174,804 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | Stokes County, North Carolina | 45,532 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | Davie County, North Carolina | 44,599 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | Yadkin County, North Carolina | 37,774 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Burlington, NC MSA | 179,165 | Alamance County, North Carolina | 179,165 |
| Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | Mount Airy, NC μSA | 71,462 | Surry County, North Carolina | 71,462 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Fayetteville, NC MSA | 392,336 | Cumberland County, North Carolina | 337,890 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Fayetteville, NC MSA | 392,336 | Hoke County, North Carolina | 54,446 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Lumberton, NC μSA | 117,365 | Robeson County, North Carolina | 117,365 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC μSA | 106,898 | Moore County, North Carolina | 106,898 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Rockingham, NC μSA | 42,324 | Richmond County, North Carolina | 42,324 |
| Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | Laurinburg, NC μSA | 34,376 | Scotland County, North Carolina | 34,376 |
| Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | Asheville, NC MSA | 417,202 | Buncombe County, North Carolina | 275,901 |
| Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | Asheville, NC MSA | 417,202 | Henderson County, North Carolina | 119,230 |
| Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | Asheville, NC MSA | 417,202 | Madison County, North Carolina | 22,071 |
| Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | Waynesville, NC μSA | 62,969 | Haywood County, North Carolina | 62,969 |
| Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | Brevard, NC μSA | 33,549 | Transylvania County, North Carolina | 33,549 |
| none | none | Wilmington, NC MSA | 467,337 | New Hanover County, North Carolina | 238,852 |
| none | none | Wilmington, NC MSA | 467,337 | Brunswick County, North Carolina | 159,964 |
| none | none | Wilmington, NC MSA | 467,337 | Pender County, North Carolina | 68,521 |
| Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA | 288,366 | Rocky Mount, NC MSA | 145,383 | Nash County, North Carolina | 96,551 |
| Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA | 288,366 | Rocky Mount, NC MSA | 145,383 | Edgecombe County, North Carolina | 48,832 |
| Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA | 288,366 | Wilson, NC μSA | 78,970 | Wilson County, North Carolina | 78,970 |
| Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA | 288,366 | Roanoke Rapids, NC μSA | 64,013 | Halifax County, North Carolina | 47,298 |
| Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids CSA | 288,366 | Roanoke Rapids, NC μSA | 64,013 | Northampton County, North Carolina | 16,715 |
| Greenville-Washington, NC CSA | 219,600 | Greenville, NC MSA | 175,119 | Pitt County, North Carolina | 175,119 |
| Greenville-Washington, NC CSA | 219,600 | Washington, NC μSA | 44,481 | Beaufort County, North Carolina | 44,481 |
| none | none | Jacksonville, NC MSA | 213,676 | Onslow County, North Carolina | 213,676 |
| New Bern-Morehead City, NC CSA | 193,830 | New Bern, NC μSA | 124,215 | Craven County, North Carolina | 102,391 |
| New Bern-Morehead City, NC CSA | 193,830 | New Bern, NC μSA | 124,215 | Pamlico County, North Carolina | 12,423 |
| New Bern-Morehead City, NC CSA | 193,830 | New Bern, NC μSA | 124,215 | Jones County, North Carolina | 9,401 |
| New Bern-Morehead City, NC CSA | 193,830 | Morehead City, NC μSA | 69,615 | Carteret County, North Carolina | 69,615 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Virginia Beach, Virginia | 453,649 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Chesapeake, Virginia | 253,886 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Norfolk, Virginia | 230,930 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Newport News, Virginia | 183,118 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Hampton, Virginia | 137,098 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Suffolk, Virginia | 100,659 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Portsmouth, Virginia | 96,793 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | James City County, Virginia | 82,654 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | York County, Virginia | 70,952 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Isle of Wight County, Virginia | 40,711 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Gloucester County, Virginia | 40,057 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Currituck County, North Carolina | 31,593 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Williamsburg, Virginia | 15,847 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | City of Poquoson, Virginia | 12,635 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Camden County, North Carolina | 11,137 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Gates County, North Carolina | 10,343 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Mathews County, Virginia | 8,514 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 53,073 (NC) | Surry County, Virginia | 6,593 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Elizabeth City, NC μSA | 41,444 | Pasquotank County, North Carolina | 41,444 |
| Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 132,627 (NC) | Kill Devil Hills, NC μSA | 38,110 | Dare County, North Carolina | 38,110 |
| none | none | Goldsboro, NC MSA | 118,686 | Wayne County, North Carolina | 118,686 |
| none | none | North Wilkesboro, NC μSA | 66,013 | Wilkes County, North Carolina | 66,013 |
| none | none | Forest City, NC μSA | 65,507 | Rutherford County, North Carolina | 65,507 |
| none | none | Kinston, NC μSA | 54,895 | Lenoir County, North Carolina | 54,895 |
| none | none | Boone, NC μSA | 54,748 | Watauga County, North Carolina | 54,748 |
| none | none | none | none | Granville County, North Carolina | 62,192 |
| none | none | none | none | Sampson County, North Carolina | 59,601 |
| none | none | none | none | Columbus County, North Carolina | 50,121 |
| none | none | none | none | Duplin County, North Carolina | 49,520 |
| none | none | none | none | Jackson County, North Carolina | 44,574 |
| none | none | none | none | Macon County, North Carolina | 38,412 |
| none | none | none | none | Cherokee County, North Carolina | 29,959 |
| none | none | none | none | Bladen County, North Carolina | 29,484 |
| none | none | none | none | Ashe County, North Carolina | 27,063 |
| none | none | none | none | Montgomery County, North Carolina | 26,085 |
| none | none | none | none | Caswell County, North Carolina | 22,807 |
| none | none | none | none | Martin County, North Carolina | 21,447 |
| none | none | none | none | Greene County, North Carolina | 20,530 |
| none | none | none | none | Polk County, North Carolina | 20,060 |
| none | none | none | none | Hertford County, North Carolina | 19,453 |
| none | none | none | none | Yancey County, North Carolina | 18,938 |
| none | none | none | none | Warren County, North Carolina | 18,836 |
| none | none | none | none | Avery County, North Carolina | 17,561 |
| none | none | none | none | Bertie County, North Carolina | 16,922 |
| none | none | none | none | Mitchell County, North Carolina | 14,999 |
| none | none | none | none | Swain County, North Carolina | 13,916 |
| none | none | none | none | Chowan County, North Carolina | 13,891 |
| none | none | none | none | Perquimans County, North Carolina | 13,377 |
| none | none | none | none | Clay County, North Carolina | 11,864 |
| none | none | none | none | Alleghany County, North Carolina | 11,342 |
| none | none | none | none | Washington County, North Carolina | 10,713 |
| none | none | none | none | Graham County, North Carolina | 8,052 |
| none | none | none | none | Hyde County, North Carolina | 4,607 |
| none | none | none | none | Tyrrell County, North Carolina | 3,461 |
| State of North Carolina | State of North Carolina | State of North Carolina | State of North Carolina | State of North Carolina | 10,835,491 |

## Core-based statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CBSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The 39 core-based statistical areas of the State of North Carolina :
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Core-based statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA (NC) | 2,366,354 | +5.17% | 2,249,929 | +17.91% | 1,908,095 |
| 2 | Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA | 1,509,231 | +6.74% | 1,413,982 | +25.08% | 1,130,490 |
| 3 | Greensboro-High Point, NC MSA | 789,842 | +1.71% | 776,566 | +7.29% | 723,801 |
| 4 | Winston-Salem, NC MSA | 695,630 | +2.91% | 675,966 | +5.52% | 640,595 |
| 5 | Durham-Chapel Hill, NC MSA | 608,879 | +3.39% | 588,911 | +16.76% | 504,357 |
| 6 | Wilmington, NC MSA | 467,337 | +10.59% | 422,598 | +16.64% | 362,315 |
| 7 | Asheville, NC MSA | 417,202 | +2.53% | 406,926 | +11.24% | 365,822 |
| 8 | Fayetteville, NC MSA | 392,336 | +1.43% | 386,810 | +5.58% | 366,383 |
| 9 | Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC MSA | 370,030 | +1.30% | 365,276 | −0.06% | 365,497 |
| 10 | Jacksonville, NC MSA | 213,676 | +4.45% | 204,576 | +15.08% | 177,772 |
| 11 | Burlington, NC MSA | 179,165 | +4.52% | 171,415 | +13.42% | 151,131 |
| 12 | Greenville, NC MSA | 175,119 | +2.86% | 170,243 | +1.25% | 168,148 |
| 13 | Rocky Mount, NC MSA | 145,383 | +1.05% | 143,870 | −5.59% | 152,392 |
| 14 | Anderson Creek, NC μSA | 141,477 | +5.92% | 133,568 | +16.47% | 114,678 |
| 15 | New Bern, NC μSA | 124,215 | +1.68% | 122,168 | −3.65% | 126,802 |
| 16 | Goldsboro, NC MSA | 118,686 | +1.15% | 117,333 | −4.31% | 122,623 |
| 17 | Lumberton, NC μSA | 117,365 | +0.72% | 116,530 | −13.15% | 134,168 |
| 18 | Pinehurst-Southern Pines, NC μSA | 106,898 | +7.19% | 99,727 | +13.01% | 88,247 |
| 19 | Shelby-Kings Mountain, NC μSA | 101,378 | +1.87% | 99,519 | +1.47% | 98,078 |
| 20 | Wilson, NC μSA | 78,970 | +0.24% | 78,784 | −3.02% | 81,234 |
| 21 | Mount Airy, NC μSA | 71,462 | +0.14% | 71,359 | −3.14% | 73,673 |
| 22 | Morehead City, NC μSA | 69,615 | +2.85% | 67,686 | +1.83% | 66,469 |
| 23 | Sanford, NC μSA | 67,059 | +5.96% | 63,285 | +9.36% | 57,866 |
| 24 | North Wilkesboro, NC μSA | 66,013 | +0.07% | 65,969 | −4.86% | 69,340 |
| 25 | Albemarle, NC μSA | 65,699 | +5.11% | 62,504 | +3.17% | 60,585 |
| 26 | Forest City, NC μSA | 65,507 | +1.65% | 64,444 | −4.96% | 67,810 |
| 27 | Roanoke Rapids, NC μSA | 64,013 | −3.15% | 66,093 | −13.93% | 76,790 |
| 28 | Waynesville, NC μSA | 62,969 | +1.42% | 62,089 | +5.17% | 59,036 |
| 29 | Kinston, NC μSA | 54,895 | −0.41% | 55,122 | −7.35% | 59,495 |
| 30 | Boone, NC μSA | 54,748 | +1.22% | 54,086 | +5.89% | 51,079 |
| 31 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA (NC) | 53,073 | +8.46% | 48,933 | +7.02% | 45,724 |
| 32 | Marion, NC μSA | 44,893 | +0.71% | 44,578 | −0.93% | 44,996 |
| 33 | Washington, NC μSA | 44,481 | −0.38% | 44,652 | −6.51% | 47,759 |
| 34 | Rockingham, NC μSA | 42,324 | −1.45% | 42,946 | −7.92% | 46,639 |
| 35 | Henderson, NC μSA | 42,301 | −0.65% | 42,578 | −6.26% | 45,422 |
| 36 | Elizabeth City, NC μSA | 41,444 | +2.16% | 40,568 | −0.23% | 40,661 |
| 37 | Kill Devil Hills, NC μSA | 38,110 | +3.24% | 36,915 | +8.83% | 33,920 |
| 38 | Laurinburg, NC μSA | 34,376 | +0.59% | 34,174 | −5.48% | 36,157 |
| 39 | Brevard, NC μSA | 33,549 | +1.71% | 32,986 | −0.31% | 33,090 |
| | Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC MSA | 2,805,115 | +5.44% | 2,660,329 | +18.56% | 2,243,960 |
| | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC MSA | 1,787,169 | +0.40% | 1,780,059 | +5.09% | 1,693,860 |

## Combined statistical areas

The following table provides the in-state population ranking of each CSA along with its rate of population change over time.
The nine combined statistical areas of the State of North Carolina :
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | Population | Population | Population | Population | Population |
| 2023 rank | Combined statistical area | 2023 estimate | Change | 2020 Census | Change | 2010 Census |
| 1 | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA (NC) | 2,948,354 | +4.48% | 2,821,806 | +13.91% | 2,477,251 |
| 2 | Raleigh-Durham-Cary, NC CSA | 2,368,947 | +5.65% | 2,242,324 | +21.02% | 1,852,813 |
| 3 | Greensboro–-Winston-Salem–-High Point, NC CSA | 1,736,099 | +2.41% | 1,695,306 | +6.68% | 1,589,200 |
| 4 | Fayetteville-Lumberton-Pinehurst, NC CSA | 693,299 | +1.93% | 680,187 | +1.28% | 671,594 |
| 5 | Asheville-Waynesville-Brevard, NC CSA | 513,720 | +2.33% | 502,001 | +9.62% | 457,948 |
| 6 | Rocky Mount-Wilson-Roanoke Rapids, NC CSA | 288,366 | −0.13% | 288,747 | −6.98% | 310,416 |
| 7 | Greenville-Washington, NC CSA | 219,600 | +2.19% | 214,895 | −0.47% | 215,907 |
| 8 | New Bern-Morehead City, NC CSA | 193,830 | +2.09% | 189,854 | −1.77% | 193,271 |
| 9 | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA (NC) | 132,627 | +4.91% | 126,416 | +5.08% | 120,305 |
| | Charlotte-Concord, NC-SC CSA | 3,387,115 | +4.79% | 3,232,206 | +14.90% | 2,813,116 |
| | Virginia Beach-Chesapeake, VA-NC CSA | 1,866,723 | +0.49% | 1,857,542 | +5.04% | 1,768,441 |