Data / Rankings / Black or African American population share / Cities in North Carolina

Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share

Kinston, NC had the highest black or African American population share of 93 cities in 2023, at 65.8%. Pinehurst, NC had the lowest, at 0.9%. The median was 20.3% and the figure for North Carolina was 20.3%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest65.8Kinston, NC
Lowest0.9Pinehurst, NC
Median20.393 cities
North Carolina20.3History

Top 40 cities, 2023

Kinston, NC: 65.8 %Kinston, NC65.8Rocky Mount, NC: 62.7 %Rocky Mount, NC62.7Henderson, NC: 61.7 %Henderson, NC61.7Goldsboro, NC: 53.1 %Goldsboro, NC53.1Tarboro, NC: 51.7 %Tarboro, NC51.7Elizabeth City, NC: 49 %Elizabeth City, NC49Wilson, NC: 48.9 %Wilson, NC48.9Laurinburg, NC: 48 %Laurinburg, NC48Knightdale, NC: 46.2 %Knightdale, NC46.2Greensboro, NC: 41.6 %Greensboro, NC41.6Fayetteville, NC: 41.1 %Fayetteville, NC41.1Greenville, NC: 40.3 %Greenville, NC40.3Zebulon, NC: 38.5 %Zebulon, NC38.5Lumberton, NC: 37.9 %Lumberton, NC37.9Winterville, NC: 36.4 %Winterville, NC36.4Roanoke Rapids, NC: 36.3 %Roanoke Rapids, NC36.3Spring Lake, NC: 35.7 %Spring Lake, NC35.7Salisbury, NC: 35.2 %Salisbury, NC35.2Durham, NC: 34.2 %Durham, NC34.2Charlotte, NC: 33.7 %Charlotte, NC33.7Hope Mills, NC: 33.7 %Hope Mills, NC33.7Shelby, NC: 32.3 %Shelby, NC32.3High Point, NC: 32.2 %High Point, NC32.2Winston-Salem, NC: 31.8 %Winston-Salem, NC31.8Gastonia, NC: 30.6 %Gastonia, NC30.6Reidsville, NC: 30.5 %Reidsville, NC30.5Burlington, NC: 29.8 %Burlington, NC29.8Rolesville, NC: 29 %Rolesville, NC29New Bern, NC: 28.7 %New Bern, NC28.7Eden, NC: 28.4 %Eden, NC28.4Clayton, NC: 27 %Clayton, NC27Raleigh, NC: 27 %Raleigh, NC27Statesville, NC: 26.7 %Statesville, NC26.7Smithfield, NC: 26.3 %Smithfield, NC26.3Lexington, NC: 26 %Lexington, NC26Garner, NC: 25.9 %Garner, NC25.9Mebane, NC: 25.6 %Mebane, NC25.6Wendell, NC: 25.5 %Wendell, NC25.5Graham, NC: 23.5 %Graham, NC23.5Kannapolis, NC: 23.1 %Kannapolis, NC23.1Kinston, NC: 65.8 %Kinston, NC65.8Rocky Mount, NC: 62.7 %Rocky Mount, NC62.7Henderson, NC: 61.7 %Henderson, NC61.7Goldsboro, NC: 53.1 %Goldsboro, NC53.1Tarboro, NC: 51.7 %Tarboro, NC51.7Elizabeth City, NC: 49 %Elizabeth City, NC49Wilson, NC: 48.9 %Wilson, NC48.9Laurinburg, NC: 48 %Laurinburg, NC48Knightdale, NC: 46.2 %Knightdale, NC46.2Greensboro, NC: 41.6 %Greensboro, NC41.6Fayetteville, NC: 41.1 %Fayetteville, NC41.1Greenville, NC: 40.3 %Greenville, NC40.3Zebulon, NC: 38.5 %Zebulon, NC38.5Lumberton, NC: 37.9 %Lumberton, NC37.9Winterville, NC: 36.4 %Winterville, NC36.4Roanoke Rapids, NC: 36.3 %Roanoke Rapids, NC36.3Spring Lake, NC: 35.7 %Spring Lake, NC35.7Salisbury, NC: 35.2 %Salisbury, NC35.2Durham, NC: 34.2 %Durham, NC34.2Charlotte, NC: 33.7 %Charlotte, NC33.7Hope Mills, NC: 33.7 %Hope Mills, NC33.7Shelby, NC: 32.3 %Shelby, NC32.3High Point, NC: 32.2 %High Point, NC32.2Winston-Salem, NC: 31.8 %Winston-Salem, NC31.8Gastonia, NC: 30.6 %Gastonia, NC30.6Reidsville, NC: 30.5 %Reidsville, NC30.5Burlington, NC: 29.8 %Burlington, NC29.8Rolesville, NC: 29 %Rolesville, NC29New Bern, NC: 28.7 %New Bern, NC28.7Eden, NC: 28.4 %Eden, NC28.4Clayton, NC: 27 %Clayton, NC27Raleigh, NC: 27 %Raleigh, NC27Statesville, NC: 26.7 %Statesville, NC26.7Smithfield, NC: 26.3 %Smithfield, NC26.3Lexington, NC: 26 %Lexington, NC26Garner, NC: 25.9 %Garner, NC25.9Mebane, NC: 25.6 %Mebane, NC25.6Wendell, NC: 25.5 %Wendell, NC25.5Graham, NC: 23.5 %Graham, NC23.5Kannapolis, NC: 23.1 %Kannapolis, NC23.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCities2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Kinston, NC65.8-3 pts
2Rocky Mount, NC62.7+0.7 pts
3Henderson, NC61.7-1.4 pts
4Goldsboro, NC53.1-1.3 pts
5Tarboro, NC51.7+2 pts
6Elizabeth City, NC49+0.4 pts
7Wilson, NC48.9-0.2 pts
8Laurinburg, NC48-0.9 pts
9Knightdale, NC46.2-0.9 pts
10Greensboro, NC41.6-1 pts
11Fayetteville, NC41.1-0.3 pts
12Greenville, NC40.3+0.3 pts
13Zebulon, NC38.5+3.6 pts
14Lumberton, NC37.9+1.3 pts
15Winterville, NC36.40 pts
16Roanoke Rapids, NC36.3+2.3 pts
17Spring Lake, NC35.7+4.3 pts
18Salisbury, NC35.2-1.3 pts
19Durham, NC34.2-1.6 pts
20Charlotte, NC33.7-1 pts
21Hope Mills, NC33.7+0.4 pts
22Shelby, NC32.3-1.2 pts
23High Point, NC32.2+0.4 pts
24Winston-Salem, NC31.8-0.7 pts
25Gastonia, NC30.6+0.9 pts
26Reidsville, NC30.5-6.5 pts
27Burlington, NC29.8+1.4 pts
28Rolesville, NC29+3.8 pts
29New Bern, NC28.7-1.9 pts
30Eden, NC28.4-0.1 pts
31Clayton, NC27+3.4 pts
31Raleigh, NC27-0.5 pts
33Statesville, NC26.7-1.8 pts
34Smithfield, NC26.3-2.6 pts
35Lexington, NC26-4.7 pts
36Garner, NC25.9+1.8 pts
37Mebane, NC25.6+1.2 pts
38Wendell, NC25.5-3.3 pts
39Graham, NC23.5-0.2 pts
40Kannapolis, NC23.1+1.2 pts
41Kings Mountain, NC22.9-2.9 pts
42Sanford, NC22.7-2.6 pts
43Albemarle, NC22.3-2.1 pts
44Concord, NC21.7-0.1 pts
45Monroe, NC21.5-1.5 pts
46Aberdeen, NC21.1+5.4 pts
47Lincolnton, NC20.3-0.4 pts
48Wake Forest, NC19.7+1.8 pts
49Havelock, NC18.1+2.3 pts
50Pineville, NC17.7-6.8 pts
51Kernersville, NC17.1+0.3 pts
52Thomasville, NC16.9-1 pts
53Jacksonville, NC15.6-2.2 pts
54Mount Holly, NC15.3+1.1 pts
55Fuquay-Varina, NC15.2-0.5 pts
56Mint Hill, NC14.9-0.3 pts
57Wilmington, NC14.8-1.3 pts
58Asheboro, NC14.1+0.8 pts
59Huntersville, NC13.5+0.5 pts
60Hickory, NC13.3+0.1 pts
61Morganton, NC13.2-0 pts
62Matthews, NC13.2+1.2 pts
63Harrisburg, NC13.2-4.4 pts
64Morrisville, NC13.1+1.5 pts
65Carrboro, NC12.8-0.1 pts
66Lenoir, NC12.5-1.3 pts
67Southern Pines, NC11.7-1.6 pts
68Lewisville, NC11.4-1.7 pts
69Newton, NC11.3+0.1 pts
70Chapel Hill, NC10.8+0.5 pts
71Mooresville, NC10.7+0.3 pts
72Indian Trail, NC10.3+1.4 pts
73Davidson, NC9.9+1.7 pts
74Asheville, NC9.7-0.7 pts
75Leland, NC9.4+0.6 pts
76Archdale, NC8.4+1.8 pts
77Mount Airy, NC8.1-1.5 pts
78Apex, NC8.1+0.4 pts
79Elon, NC8+1 pts
80Hendersonville, NC7.9+1.4 pts
81Holly Springs, NC7.9-1.6 pts
82Stallings, NC7.8-2.1 pts
83Belmont, NC7.3+1.5 pts
84Cary, NC7.3-0.7 pts
85Waxhaw, NC7.1-0.9 pts
86Clemmons, NC6.1-0.1 pts
87Morehead City, NC5.5-1 pts
88Summerfield, NC5.5+0.4 pts
89Cornelius, NC4.6-0.2 pts
90Weddington, NC4.5-1.7 pts
91Boone, NC3.2+0.6 pts
92Waynesville, NC1.8+0.1 pts
93Pinehurst, NC0.9-0.7 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People who are not Hispanic or Latino and report Black or African American as their only race, as a percentage of the total population. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

US federal statistics ask about Hispanic origin and race separately, and Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race. The shares for White, Black and Asian count people who are not Hispanic and report that race alone, so the published shares do not add up to 100 (people of two or more races and other races are not shown). EU and Spanish statistics do not collect race.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the cities are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more) (Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more), Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_cities_in_north_carolina_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more): Cities in North Carolina by black or African American population share, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/black-population-share/north-carolina-cities?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b03002.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which city has the highest black or African American population share?

Kinston, NC, with 65.8% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which city has the lowest black or African American population share?

Pinehurst, NC, with 0.9% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B03002: Black or African American alone, not Hispanic or Latino, as a percentage of the total population, calculated with stored inputs, US cities (incorporated places of 10,000 or more). Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Black or African American population share: other rankings

Cities in North Carolina: more rankings