North Carolina: elevation, cities and highest point
North Carolina has 11,197,968 people (2025) and 100 counties. Its highest point is Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 ft, and its lowest, the Atlantic Ocean, at sea level. Here you’ll find the elevation of its capital, its cities over 100,000 people and its summit, with a map of its counties.
By the All Map Tools Team
- Population (2025)
- 11,197,968
- The 9th most populous of the 50 states
- Land area
- 48,624 sq mi
- The 29th largest state
- Counties
- 100
- According to the Census (2025)
- Lowest point
- Sea level
- Atlantic Ocean
Map of North Carolina’s counties
- Capital’s county
- County with a city page
- City, by elevation
- Highest point
Elevation
The capital, Raleigh, sits at 315 ft (96 m): the 30th highest of the 50 state capitals. North Carolina’s highest point, Mount Mitchell, is 203 mi away in a straight line and 6,369 ft higher.
Between its highest point (6,684 ft) and its lowest (sea level) there’s 6,684 ft of relief, according to the USGS table. Of the 50 state high points, North Carolina’s is the 16th highest.
North Carolina has 10 cities with a page. The highest is High Point, at 922 ft, and the lowest is Wilmington, at 37 ft: 885 ft apart.
North Carolina borders 4 states. Their highest points are Kuwohi, in Tennessee (6,643 ft), Brasstown Bald, in Georgia (4,784 ft), Sassafras Mountain, in South Carolina (3,560 ft), and Mount Rogers, in Virginia (5,729 ft): North Carolina’s is the highest of the 5. Their capitals: Nashville (555 ft), Atlanta (1,050 ft), Columbia (299 ft), and Richmond (213 ft).
- Mount Mitchell 6,684 ft
- Winston-Salem 911 ft
- Greensboro 823 ft
- Charlotte 763 ft
- Durham 395 ft
- Raleigh 315 ft
Cities of 100,000 to 250,000 people (5)
Population
North Carolina had 11,197,968 residents on July 1, 2025, according to Census Bureau estimates, 7.2% more than in April 2020 (10,441,392). Across 48,624 sq mi of land, that’s 230 people/sq mi.
Its most populous place is Charlotte, with 964,784 people. The Census counts 776 cities, towns and census-designated places (CDPs) in North Carolina.
| Place | Population | Land area | Elevation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Charlotte | 964,784 | 312 sq mi | 763 ft |
| Raleigh | 506,306 | 152 sq mi | 315 ft |
| Greensboro | 308,667 | 135 sq mi | 823 ft |
| Durham | 305,561 | 120 sq mi | 395 ft |
| Winston-Salem | 257,271 | 134 sq mi | 911 ft |
| Fayetteville | 209,120 | 148 sq mi | 102 ft |
| Cary | 183,582 | 61.1 sq mi | 498 ft |
| Wilmington | 126,809 | 51.4 sq mi | 37 ft |
| High Point | 120,571 | 57.5 sq mi | 922 ft |
| Concord | 114,598 | 64.8 sq mi | 706 ft |
Neighboring states
Tools
Frequently asked questions
What is the highest point in North Carolina?
Mount Mitchell, at 6,684 ft, according to the USGS table. It’s the 16th highest of the 50 state high points.
What is the lowest point in North Carolina?
The Atlantic Ocean, at sea level, according to the same USGS table.
What is the elevation of Raleigh, the capital?
315 ft above sea level, at its reference point in the USGS gazetteer. It’s the 30th highest state capital.
What is the highest city in North Carolina?
Of the cities with a page (the capital and those over 100,000 people), High Point, at 922 ft. Some smaller towns are higher: look them up with the point elevation tool.
How many counties does North Carolina have?
100, according to the Census Bureau in 2025.
Sources
- Population, land area and counties: U.S. Census Bureau (Vintage 2025 estimates and 2025 Gazetteer), public domain.
- Highest and lowest points: USGS, “Elevations and Distances in the United States” (and, for Denali, the 2015 survey), public domain.
- City elevations: USGS 3DEP at each city’s GNIS point, public domain.
- County map: U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Cartographic Boundary Files (1:500,000).
Methodology and sources · Spotted a mistake? Let us know