RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Highest poverty rate, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2023 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

01Boone, NCNC19,92951.2%+38%

02Cullowhee, NCNC7,97345.8%+10%

03Williamston, NCNC5,08636.3%+25%

04Siler City, NCNC8,15533.9%+131%

05Roxboro, NCNC8,38033.3%+97%

06Forest City, NCNC7,41032.1%+67%

07Laurinburg, NCNC14,58231.1%+32%

08Lumberton, NCNC18,95530.8%+19%

09Rockingham, NCNC8,81530.6%+50%

10Oxford, NCNC8,98528.3%+33%

11Kinston, NCNC19,70527.9%+21%

12Lexington, NCNC20,23827.8%+31%

13Wadesboro, NCNC5,03527.4%+9%

14Smithfield, NCNC13,11427.3%+33%

15Henderson, NCNC15,01327.3%−3%

16Mount Airy, NCNC10,68226.9%+35%

17Salisbury, NCNC36,87926.3%+64%

18Morganton, NCNC17,84925.7%+90%

19Albemarle, NCNC17,76924.9%+59%

20Selma, NCNC7,40624.7%−18%

21Greenville, NCNC96,44324.6%−5%

22Clinton, NCNC8,46623.6%+1%

23Marion, NCNC7,44023.5%+36%

24Washington, NCNC9,91023.1%−19%

25Wilson, NCNC49,57223.0%+6%

26Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11723.0%+19%

27Goldsboro, NCNC35,01222.8%+19%

28Lincolnton, NCNC12,46522.7%+31%

29Ayden, NCNC5,26322.4%−15%

30Northchase, NCNC5,89622.3%–

31Sanford, NCNC34,13822.0%+28%

32Hamlet, NCNC5,87021.6%−3%

33Reidsville, NCNC14,69221.1%+40%

34Statesville, NCNC32,18120.4%+27%

35Elon, NCNC11,36620.0%–

36Asheboro, NCNC27,99019.7%+25%

37Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12019.7%−2%

38Dunn, NCNC8,81419.7%−16%

39Mocksville, NCNC6,28219.2%+53%

40Eden, NCNC15,50019.2%+12%

41Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56518.6%−14%

42Tarboro, NCNC10,97918.5%+21%

43Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38618.4%−2%

44Creedmoor, NCNC5,04618.2%+59%

45Morehead City, NCNC10,43418.1%+24%

46Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27117.7%+17%

47Fayetteville, NCNC209,12017.7%+20%

48Spring Lake, NCNC11,25217.7%−25%

49Shelby, NCNC23,30917.6%−1%

50Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64917.4%–

51New Bern, NCNC34,72417.3%−11%

52Hickory, NCNC45,97517.1%+51%

53Greensboro, NCNC308,66717.0%+39%

54Nashville, NCNC5,91116.9%+60%

55Graham, NCNC20,13116.8%+13%

56Swannanoa, NCNC6,90116.8%+47%

57Bessemer City, NCNC5,83416.4%+38%

58Burlington, NCNC61,49616.4%+20%

59Gastonia, NCNC87,06716.3%+9%

60Thomasville, NCNC27,73316.3%+0%

61St. Stephens, NCNC9,45716.2%+129%

62Wilmington, NCNC126,80916.0%−18%

63Waynesville, NCNC11,00615.9%+3%

64Conover, NCNC8,93815.7%+29%

65High Point, NCNC120,57115.7%+19%

66Brevard, NCNC8,09815.1%+40%

67Butner, NCNC8,11215.0%+185%

68Kings Grant, NCNC9,00314.7%+119%

69Lenoir, NCNC18,37214.6%+2%

70Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92714.6%–

71Hendersonville, NCNC15,86714.6%−13%

72Etowah, NCNC7,96814.4%+144%

73Havelock, NCNC17,43014.3%+66%

74Asheville, NCNC93,52314.3%−8%

75Hope Mills, NCNC18,32414.1%+80%

76Woodfin, NCNC8,22914.1%−35%

77Pineville, NCNC11,85113.8%+111%

78Monroe, NCNC42,64413.3%−23%

79Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62213.3%−51%

80Jacksonville, NCNC72,73212.7%−10%

81Kernersville, NCNC29,12812.6%+49%

82Kannapolis, NCNC61,70812.6%+19%

83East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32312.6%−39%

84Cherryville, NCNC6,52312.4%+36%

85Carrboro, NCNC20,96212.2%−36%

86Newton, NCNC13,82212.0%−1%

87Raleigh, NCNC506,30611.9%+4%

88Pittsboro, NCNC5,05411.7%−36%

89Durham, NCNC305,56111.7%−22%

90Charlotte, NCNC964,78411.7%+10%

91Trinity, NCNC7,27411.6%+36%

92Long View, NCNC5,38711.3%−26%

93Piney Green, NCNC14,07810.8%+3%

94Walkertown, NCNC6,12010.8%+118%

95Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28710.7%+2%

96Angier, NCNC9,41010.6%−35%

97Dallas, NCNC6,39210.5%−45%

98Aberdeen, NCNC10,06610.5%−24%

99Shallotte, NCNC5,33510.3%+29%

100Lewisville, NCNC14,42110.2%+315%

101Sawmills, NCNC5,1059.9%+12%

102Winterville, NCNC10,9739.8%−15%

103Silver Lake, NCNC6,5639.7%+7%

104Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1659.7%+9%

105Concord, NCNC114,5989.6%+18%

106Southern Pines, NCNC17,3579.6%−34%

107Hampstead, NCNC9,2929.5%–

108Unionville, NCNC7,3229.4%+76%

109Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7319.1%+11%

110Zebulon, NCNC11,9339.0%−44%

111Locust, NCNC6,1208.7%+113%

112Oak Island, NCNC9,3378.7%+8%

113Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8758.5%−10%

114Garner, NCNC41,5628.4%+24%

115Mint Hill, NCNC29,4768.4%+73%

116Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5368.2%−26%

117Mount Holly, NCNC19,0338.2%−24%

118Hillsborough, NCNC9,7788.0%−37%

119Belmont, NCNC16,4157.9%−17%

120Half Moon, NCNC7,3787.9%+3%

121Fletcher, NCNC8,3737.6%+3%

122Marvin, NCNC7,0407.6%+304%

123Mooresville, NCNC55,8427.3%+1%

124Mebane, NCNC21,9527.2%−39%

125Summerfield, NCNC11,3277.1%+84%

126King, NCNC7,9777.0%+74%

127Davidson, NCNC16,6627.0%+16%

128Moyock, NCNC5,6846.8%–

129Clemmons, NCNC22,8086.5%+85%

130Cramerton, NCNC5,7136.2%+27%

131Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.2%+7%

132Leland, NCNC35,7316.1%−68%

133Carolina Beach, NCNC6,8706.0%−36%

134Black Mountain, NCNC8,4915.9%−41%

135Clayton, NCNC32,6335.9%−49%

136Gibsonville, NCNC9,8765.8%−35%

137Cary, NCNC183,5825.7%+65%

138Stokesdale, NCNC6,1335.6%+6%

139Surf City, NCNC5,1425.5%−64%

140Cornelius, NCNC35,0945.4%+22%

141Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.4%−7%

142Knightdale, NCNC23,1445.3%+14%

143Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5055.3%+352%

144Archdale, NCNC12,2545.2%−8%

145Midway, NCNC5,1045.0%–

146Lillington, NCNC5,0404.9%−76%

147Ogden, NCNC8,2494.8%−17%

148Holly Springs, NCNC50,2884.8%+1%

149Stallings, NCNC17,7604.8%−5%

150Waxhaw, NCNC23,1404.5%+6%

151Wake Forest, NCNC58,1474.5%−49%

152Murraysville, NCNC16,3394.5%−54%

153Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5664.5%+31%

154Pinehurst, NCNC18,6704.3%+56%

155St. James, NCNC7,3184.3%–

156Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,9064.2%–

157Spout Springs, NCNC11,2424.2%–

158Midland, NCNC5,1514.1%–

159Weddington, NCNC14,5174.0%+169%

160Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5403.9%−19%

161Barbecue, NCNC5,9103.9%–

162Porters Neck, NCNC7,6543.8%–

163Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.7%+159%

164Matthews, NCNC32,7693.7%−9%

165Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8963.6%−4%

166Wendell, NCNC19,6873.2%−75%

167Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.1%−33%

168Huntersville, NCNC68,5353.1%−0%

169Mills River, NCNC7,5042.6%–

170Westport, NCNC5,9152.6%−52%

171Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4942.5%−65%

172Apex, NCNC80,4192.2%+18%

173Rolesville, NCNC12,8391.1%−91%

174Holly Ridge, NCNC5,9080.8%−97%

175Briar Chapel, NCNC6,0490.6%–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES