Note: As defined by the US Census Bureau, a city's official boundaries often extend miles beyond the city itself and may even cross county lines. As such, several thousand US cities officially exist in two or more counties (and therefore appear on multiple counties' lists of cities.)
City | Rank | 2024 Pop. | 2020 Pop. | Change | Density (/mi²) | Area (mi²) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington | 1 | 125,007 | 115,770 | 1.88% | 2,431 | 51.4 | City |
| Murraysville | 2 | 17,082 | 16,174 | 1.21% | 1,983 | 8.6 | CDP |
| Myrtle Grove | 3 | 12,629 | 11,921 | 2.17% | 1,883 | 6.7 | CDP |
| Ogden | 4 | 9,021 | 9,071 | 1.82% | 1,993 | 4.5 | CDP |
| Kings Grant | 5 | 8,636 | 8,596 | 0.44% | 1,902 | 4.5 | CDP |
| Porters Neck | 6 | 7,325 | 7,693 | 1.1% | 1,354 | 5.4 | CDP |
| Carolina Beach | 7 | 6,915 | 6,559 | 1.3% | 2,820 | 2.5 | Town |
| Silver Lake | 8 | 5,901 | 6,146 | 0.36% | 2,393 | 2.5 | CDP |
| Northchase | 9 | 5,842 | 4,987 | 2.62% | 3,397 | 1.7 | CDP |
| Wrightsboro | 10 | 4,873 | 4,788 | -0.02% | 438 | 11.1 | CDP |
| Skippers Corner | 11 | 3,735 | 3,250 | 1.85% | 533 | 7.0 | CDP |
| Bayshore | 12 | 3,012 | 3,776 | -0.89% | 1,279 | 2.4 | CDP |
| Wrightsville Beach | 13 | 2,404 | 2,467 | -0.66% | 1,723 | 1.4 | Town |
| Kure Beach | 14 | 2,147 | 2,183 | -0.42% | 2,440 | 0.9 | Town |
| Sea Breeze | 15 | 1,460 | 1,646 | -2.47% | 783 | 1.9 | CDP |
| Castle Hayne | 16 | 931 | 993 | -2.1% | 195 | 4.8 | CDP |
| Hightsville | 17 | 752 | 823 | 0.13% | 516 | 1.5 | CDP |
| Blue Clay Farms | 18 | 145 | 52 | 8.21% | 59 | 2.4 | CDP |
Note: City markers shown outside the county boundary mean that a part of the city extends into this county, but is primarily located in an adjacent county.
Wilmington is the largest city in New Hanover County.
Blue Clay Farms is the smallest city in New Hanover County.
There are 18 cities in New Hanover County, North Carolina.