County facts · Population growth · October 23, 2026
Fastest Growing Counties in North Carolina, 2020 to 2025
North Carolina's fastest growing counties by percent and by people added, April 2020 to July 2025 Census estimates, with each official parcel map.
Looking for the fastest growing counties in North Carolina? From the Census Bureau's April 1, 2020 estimates base to its July 1, 2025 estimate, North Carolina went from about 10,441,392 to 11,197,968 residents, a change of +756,576 (+7.2%). The fastest growing county by percentage was Brunswick County (+27.8%), while Wake County added the most people (+127,879, +11.3%).
Each table links the county's Platbookmapper page and its official parcel viewer, so you can go from the growth numbers straight to the property lines.
North Carolina growth at a glance
- County: 100
- Statewide, April 2020 to July 2025: +756,576 residents (+7.2%); July 2024 to July 2025 alone: +145,907 (+1.3%)
- Grew: 86 of 100 · Lost residents: 14
- Fastest growing by percent: Brunswick County (+27.8%); most people added: Wake County (+127,879)
- Counties with more deaths than births over the period: 79 of 100
The 10 fastest growing North Carolina counties by percent
| # | County | Apr 2020 | Jul 2025 | Change | % change | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brunswick County | 136,695 | 174,702 | +38,007 | +27.8% | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 2 | Pender County | 60,203 | 72,111 | +11,908 | +19.8% | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
| 3 | Franklin County | 68,625 | 82,037 | +13,412 | +19.5% | county web map |
| 4 | Johnston County | 216,014 | 256,448 | +40,434 | +18.7% | county web map |
| 5 | Currituck County | 28,101 | 33,158 | +5,057 | +18.0% | county web map |
| 6 | Lincoln County | 86,782 | 98,654 | +11,872 | +13.7% | ArcGIS |
| 7 | Iredell County | 186,686 | 211,798 | +25,112 | +13.5% | county web map |
| 8 | Harnett County | 133,563 | 150,137 | +16,574 | +12.4% | county web map |
| 9 | Union County | 238,179 | 267,674 | +29,495 | +12.4% | county web map |
| 10 | Chatham County | 76,258 | 85,111 | +8,853 | +11.6% | county web map |
These 10 added about 200,724 people combined. The median county changed by +3.8%.
The 10 counties that added the most people
| # | County | People added | % change | Jul 2025 | Parcel viewer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wake County | +127,879 | +11.3% | 1,257,235 | county web map |
| 2 | Mecklenburg County | +117,829 | +10.6% | 1,233,383 | county web map |
| 3 | Johnston County | +40,434 | +18.7% | 256,448 | county web map |
| 4 | Brunswick County | +38,007 | +27.8% | 174,702 | ArcGIS Web AppBuilder |
| 5 | Union County | +29,495 | +12.4% | 267,674 | county web map |
| 6 | Iredell County | +25,112 | +13.5% | 211,798 | county web map |
| 7 | Cabarrus County | +23,904 | +10.6% | 249,725 | county web map |
| 8 | Durham County | +22,381 | +6.9% | 347,240 | county web map |
| 9 | Guilford County | +20,980 | +3.9% | 562,234 | county web map |
| 10 | New Hanover County | +20,255 | +9.0% | 245,959 | ArcGIS Experience Builder |
The top 10 account for about 61% of all the gains in the counties that grew.
Where the new residents came from
The Census Bureau splits each change into natural change (births minus deaths), net domestic migration (moves from other parts of the US) and net international migration. Totals for April 2020 to July 2025 in the five fastest growing counties:
| County | Births minus deaths | Net domestic moves | Net international moves | Total change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County | −4,453 | +41,765 | +521 | +38,007 |
| Pender County | −209 | +11,567 | +528 | +11,908 |
| Franklin County | +605 | +11,898 | +873 | +13,412 |
| Johnston County | +4,192 | +32,927 | +3,404 | +40,434 |
| Currituck County | −21 | +4,953 | +139 | +5,057 |
In all 5, moves from elsewhere in the US were the biggest source of growth. The three parts do not add up exactly to the total because the Census Bureau also carries a small residual.
The last year alone: July 2024 to July 2025
- Brunswick County: +4.7% (+7,813)
- Pender County: +2.8% (+1,961)
- Johnston County: +2.8% (+6,926)
- Iredell County: +2.8% (+5,679)
- Franklin County: +2.6% (+2,107)
5 of these 5 are also in the 2020–2025 top 10, so the growth is not a one-year blip.
Counties losing residents
14 of North Carolina's 100 counties had fewer residents in July 2025 than in April 2020. The steepest declines:
- Hertford County: −11.8% (−2,533, now about 19,015)
- Northampton County: −5.6% (−979, now about 16,491)
- Bertie County: −4.7% (−847, now about 17,086)
- Halifax County: −4.3% (−2,079, now about 46,534)
- Washington County: −3.3% (−360, now about 10,638)
What fast growth means on a parcel map
- New lots show up as plats first. When land is subdivided, the plat is recorded with the county and the parcel layer catches up on its own schedule, so a brand-new lot may not appear on the map for a while. Check the recorder's recent plats if a parcel looks missing.
- Parcel numbers change after splits. A tract that was one parcel last year can be several today. Search by owner name or address as well as by an old parcel number.
- City limits move. Growing cities annex land, which changes who handles zoning and permits even though the county still keeps the deed and the tax map.
- Percent is not the same as people. A small county can post a big percentage on a modest number of new residents, so read the people-added column too.
Related guides
- Largest counties in North Carolina
- North Carolina county GIS websites by viewer
- North Carolina plat maps
- North Carolina landowner maps for hunting
- Fastest growing counties in the US
- US counties losing population
More: All North Carolina counties on Platbookmapper
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, Population Estimates Program, county totals, Vintage 2025 (April 1, 2020 estimates base and July 1, 2020–2025 estimates, with components of change). Percent change is from the April 1, 2020 estimates base to the July 1, 2025 estimate.
- Platbookmapper county GIS directory (live data file behind our county pages, pulled October 23, 2026) for each official parcel viewer.