Charlotte has officially become the 14th largest city in the United States, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released today.
Between July 2023 and July 2024, Charlotte added 23,423 residents, increasing its total population to 943,476. This ranks the Queen City sixth in the nation for numeric population growth and population density, outpacing larger metros like Phoenix, Seattle, and DC.
Charlotte has grown by more than 68,000 residents since 2020 — an average of over 17,000 people per year. If that trend continues, our city is projected to surpass the 1 million mark by 2028. Currently, only 11 U.S. cities have reached that milestone.
The Census Bureau’s 2024 estimates also highlighted broader Southern growth trends. North Carolina ranked third nationally in housing unit growth at 1.9%, behind Idaho and Utah.
Several other North Carolina communities also posted significant gains. Garner ranked 10th among the nation’s fastest-growing cities over 20,000 residents with 10.4% growth. Leland placed 14th with 9.4% growth. Meanwhile, Brunswick County recorded the second-highest housing unit growth in the country at 6.4%.
Charlotte rose from the 17th largest U.S. city in 2020, passing San Francisco, Indianapolis, and most recently Columbus, Ohio. It now sits just behind Jacksonville, Florida.
Nationally, the South and West continued to dominate in growth, with New York City, Houston, and Los Angeles seeing the largest numeric increases. Princeton, Texas led all U.S. cities in growth rate at 30.6%.
