| 1 | Holly Ridge town (east-northeast) | 11,938 |
| 2 | Holly Ridge town (south-southwest) | 10,263 |
| 3 | Pumpkin Center CDP (northwest) | 8,490 |
| 4 | Holly Ridge town (west) | 8,004 |
| 5 | North Topsail Beach town (northwest) | 7,991 |
| 6 | Half Moon CDP (northwest) | 7,955 |
| 7 | Swansboro town (east) | 7,360 |
| 8 | Piney Green CDP (south-southeast 2) | 7,290 |
| 9 | Half Moon CDP (east-northeast) | 7,224 |
| 10 | Jacksonville city (southeast 1) | 7,086 |
| 11 | Swansboro town (south) | 6,709 |
| 12 | Piney Green CDP (north) | 6,645 |
| 13 | Jacksonville city (southwest) | 6,547 |
| 14 | Richlands town (northeast) | 5,642 |
| 15 | Richlands town (southeast) | 5,492 |
| 16 | Jacksonville city (southeast 2) | 5,334 |
| 17 | Pumpkin Center CDP (east) | 5,263 |
| 18 | Half Moon CDP (south-southeast) | 5,141 |
| 19 | Piney Green CDP (south-southeast 1) | 4,920 |
| 20 | Jacksonville city (west-southwest) | 4,830 |
| 21 | Half Moon CDP (east) | 4,229 |
| 22 | Jacksonville city (east-northeast) | 4,194 |
| 23 | Pumpkin Center CDP (southeast) | 4,188 |
| 24 | Pumpkin Center CDP (west) | 3,890 |
| 25 | Half Moon CDP (southwest) | 3,732 |
| 26 | Richlands town (north-northwest) | 3,677 |
| 27 | Richlands town (west) | 3,452 |
| 28 | Pumpkin Center CDP (north-northeast) | 3,385 |
| 29 | Swansboro town (west-northwest) | 3,367 |
| 30 | Half Moon CDP (north-northeast) | 3,231 |
| 31 | Swansboro town (north) | 3,221 |
| 32 | Jacksonville city (north-northeast) | 2,769 |
| 33 | Richlands town (south-southwest) | 2,585 |
| 34 | Swansboro town (south-southeast) | 2,545 |
| 35 | Holly Ridge town (west-northwest) | 2,471 |
| 36 | Pumpkin Center CDP (southwest) | 2,410 |
| 37 | Jacksonville city (north-northwest) | 2,311 |
| 38 | Holly Ridge town (east) | 2,242 |
| 39 | Pumpkin Center CDP (west-southwest) | 2,104 |
| 40 | Swansboro town (southwest) | 1,969 |
| 41 | Jacksonville city (west-northwest) | 1,915 |
| 42 | Sneads Ferry CDP | 1,489 |
| 43 | North Topsail Beach town (southwest) | 1,035 |
| 44 | Jacksonville city (east) | 1,007 |
| 45 | Piney Green CDP (south) | 995 |