Identifiers: city · town · CDP
| Rank | Community | Population |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gastonia (city), NC | 80,411 |
| 2 | Shelby (city), NC | 21,918 |
| 3 | Mount Holly (city), NC | 17,703 |
| 4 | Belmont (city), NC | 15,010 |
| 5 | Newton (city), NC | 13,148 |
| 6 | Kings Mountain (city), NC | 11,142 |
| 7 | Lincolnton (city), NC | 11,091 |
| 8 | Cherryville (city), NC | 6,078 |
| 9 | Dallas (town), NC | 5,927 |
| 10 | Bessemer City (city), NC | 5,428 |
| 11 | Cramerton (town), NC | 5,296 |
| 12 | Ranlo (town), NC | 4,511 |
| 13 | Stanley (town), NC | 3,963 |
| 14 | Maiden (town), NC | 3,736 |
| 15 | Lowell (city), NC | 3,654 |
| 16 | Lowesville (CDP), NC | 3,281 |
| 17 | Springdale (CDP), NC | 1,203 |
| 18 | McAdenville (town), NC | 890 |
| 19 | Iron Station (CDP), NC | 825 |
| 20 | Grover (town), NC | 802 |