News & Media

Iredell County Leads Charlotte Metro in Population Growth — Again

By Jenna Martin – Managing Editor, Digital, Charlotte Business Journal

Iredell County continues to lead the Charlotte metro area in population growth, with Lancaster County trailing close behind.

Iredell saw its population grow 2.8% between July 1, 2024 and July 1, 2025, adding nearly 5,700 people, according to new U.S. Census Bureau estimates, released today. Lancaster posted growth of 2.7%, with its population increasing by about 3,000 residents.

Iredell has an estimated population of 211,798, compared to Lancaster’s 114,269.

Mecklenburg County logged the metro’s third-highest growth rate at 2.2%. It unsurprisingly added the most new people by numeric count over the year — 26,554 residents — to reach a population of about 1.23 million.

Mecklenburg ranks as the second-largest county in the state by population, following Wake with about 1.26 million people. Wake had the fifth-highest numeric increase (27,760) among U.S. counties, with Mecklenburg ranking seventh nationwide.

All counties in the Charlotte metro area grew by varying degrees from 2024 to 2025, the Census estimates show. Rowan had the lowest growth of 0.9%, adding nearly 1,400 people. Anson added the fewest people, just 234, with growth of 1.1%.

But of the metro’s 11 counties, Anson, Chester and Lancaster were the only ones to post higher annual population growth when compared to 2024.

Four rural counties in the local metro — Rowan, Anson, Lincoln and Chester — recorded slight decreases in natural population change, meaning there were more deaths than births.

All 11 counties had increases in net migration, led by Mecklenburg’s 18,278 gain. Of Mecklenburg’s migrants, 13,347 were international and 4,931 were domestic. Five other counties — York, Gaston, Union, Cabarrus and Iredell — added at least 3,000 residents over the year through net migration.

Below are the Charlotte-area counties listed in ascending order of their estimated annual population growth, on a percentage basis.

Rowan County

  • 2025 population estimate: 155,096
  • Numeric change: +1,383 (ranks 23rd in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +1,601 — domestic: 1,211 and international: 390
  • Natural change: -216 — births: 1,591 and deaths: 1,807
  • Percentage change: +0.9% (ranks 37th in N.C.)

Anson County

  • 2025 population estimate: 21,758
  • Numeric change: +234 (ranks 52nd in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +287 — domestic: 249 and international: 38
  • Natural change: -51 — births: 276 and deaths: 327
  • Percentage change: +1.1% (ranks 30th in N.C.)

Lincoln County

  • 2025 population estimate: 98,654
  • Numeric change: +1,135 (ranks 28th in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +1,146 — domestic: 997 and international: 149
  • Natural change: -16 — births: 968 and deaths: 984
  • Percentage change: +1.2% (ranks 26th in N.C.)

York County (South Carolina)

  • 2025 population estimate: 306,887
  • Numeric change: +4,126 (ranks 6th in S.C.)
  • Net migration: +3,076 — domestic: 2,063 and international: 1,013
  • Natural change: +1,041 — births: 3,665 and deaths: 2,624
  • Percentage change: +1.4% (ranks 15th in S.C.)

Chester County (South Carolina)

  • 2025 population estimate: 33,001
  • Numeric change: +454 (ranks 20th in S.C.)
  • Net migration: +517 — domestic: 515 and international: 2
  • Natural change: -58 — births: 391 and deaths: 449
  • Percentage change: +1.4% (ranks 14th in S.C.)

Gaston County

  • 2025 population estimate: 246,558
  • Numeric change: +3,538 (ranks 12th in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +3,329 — domestic: 2,610 and international: 719
  • Natural change: +222 — births: 2,960 and deaths: 2,738
  • Percentage change: +1.5% (ranks 20th in N.C.)

Union County

  • 2025 population estimate: 267,674
  • Numeric change: +3,970 (ranks 9th in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +3,015 — domestic: 2,111 and international: 904
  • Natural change: +949 — births: 2,694 and deaths: 1,745
  • Percentage change: +1.5% (ranks 19th in N.C.)

Cabarrus County

  • 2025 population estimate: 249,725
  • Numeric change: +4,052 (ranks 8th in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +3,189 — domestic: 2,218 and international: 971
  • Natural change: +869 — births: 2,705 and deaths: 1,836
  • Percentage change: +1.6% (ranks 16th in N.C.)

Mecklenburg County

  • 2025 population estimate: 1,233,383
  • Numeric change: +26,554 (ranks 2nd in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +18,278 — domestic: 4,931 and international: 13,347
  • Natural change: +8,224 — births: 15,402 and deaths: 7,178
  • Percentage change: +2.2% (ranks 11th in N.C.)

Lancaster County (South Carolina)

  • 2025 population estimate: 114,296
  • Numeric change: +2,997 (ranks 10th in S.C.)
  • Net migration: +2,672 — domestic: 2,405 and international: 267
  • Natural change: +338 — births: 1,518 and deaths: 1,180
  • Percentage change: +2.7% (ranks 5th in S.C.)

Iredell County

  • 2025 population estimate: 211,798
  • Numeric change: +5,679 (ranks 5th in N.C.)
  • Net migration: +5,533 — domestic: 5,094 and international: 439
  • Natural change: +196 — births: 2,073 and deaths: 1,877
  • Percentage change: +2.8% (ranks 4th in N.C.)

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