RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Highest poverty rate, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (1990 ACS). This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS –

01Boone, NCNC19,92941.0%–

02Williamston, NCNC5,08629.4%–

03Carrboro, NCNC20,96229.4%–

04Laurinburg, NCNC14,58229.4%–

05Lumberton, NCNC18,95529.1%–

06Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62228.2%–

07Washington, NCNC9,91027.3%–

08Clinton, NCNC8,46626.9%–

09Greenville, NCNC96,44326.6%–

10Dunn, NCNC8,81426.4%–

11Holly Springs, NCNC50,28825.7%–

12Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90825.3%–

13Kinston, NCNC19,70525.2%–

14Ayden, NCNC5,26324.9%–

15Henderson, NCNC15,01324.1%–

16Cullowhee, NCNC7,97323.8%–

17Wilson, NCNC49,57223.5%–

18Selma, NCNC7,40623.2%–

19New Bern, NCNC34,72423.2%–

20Wilmington, NCNC126,80922.1%–

21Oxford, NCNC8,98521.8%–

22Roxboro, NCNC8,38021.6%–

23Spring Lake, NCNC11,25221.2%–

24Goldsboro, NCNC35,01221.2%–

25Sanford, NCNC34,13821.1%–

26Hendersonville, NCNC15,86720.3%–

27Wadesboro, NCNC5,03519.9%–

28Waynesville, NCNC11,00619.4%–

29Shelby, NCNC23,30919.3%–

30Angier, NCNC9,41019.1%–

31Morehead City, NCNC10,43419.1%–

32Leland, NCNC35,73118.9%–

33Fayetteville, NCNC209,12018.8%–

34Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38618.6%–

35Dallas, NCNC6,39218.6%–

36Lexington, NCNC20,23818.5%–

37Reidsville, NCNC14,69218.5%–

38Hamlet, NCNC5,87018.1%–

39Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12018.1%–

40Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11717.9%–

41Forest City, NCNC7,41017.8%–

42Marion, NCNC7,44017.6%–

43Lenoir, NCNC18,37217.6%–

44Smithfield, NCNC13,11417.5%–

45Lincolnton, NCNC12,46517.4%–

46Winterville, NCNC10,97317.1%–

47Southern Pines, NCNC17,35716.8%–

48Mount Airy, NCNC10,68216.7%–

49Monroe, NCNC42,64416.7%–

50East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32316.4%–

51Eden, NCNC15,50016.2%–

52Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56516.1%–

53Lillington, NCNC5,04016.0%–

54Woodfin, NCNC8,22915.9%–

55Asheville, NCNC93,52315.9%–

56Rockingham, NCNC8,81515.9%–

57Statesville, NCNC32,18115.7%–

58Salisbury, NCNC36,87915.6%–

59Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27115.2%–

60Zebulon, NCNC11,93315.1%–

61Durham, NCNC305,56114.9%–

62Clayton, NCNC32,63314.8%–

63Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87014.6%–

64Brevard, NCNC8,09814.3%–

65Gastonia, NCNC87,06714.2%–

66Albemarle, NCNC17,76914.1%–

67Siler City, NCNC8,15513.8%–

68Pittsboro, NCNC5,05413.5%–

69Tarboro, NCNC10,97913.4%–

70Creedmoor, NCNC5,04613.2%–

71Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53613.2%–

72Cherryville, NCNC6,52313.0%–

73Thomasville, NCNC27,73312.9%–

74Asheboro, NCNC27,99012.8%–

75High Point, NCNC120,57112.7%–

76Newton, NCNC13,82212.5%–

77Stokesdale, NCNC6,13312.3%–

78Concord, NCNC114,59812.1%–

79Hillsborough, NCNC9,77812.1%–

80Jacksonville, NCNC72,73211.9%–

81Graham, NCNC20,13111.8%–

82Raleigh, NCNC506,30611.8%–

83Kannapolis, NCNC61,70811.8%–

84Greensboro, NCNC308,66711.6%–

85Piney Green, NCNC14,07811.5%–

86Hickory, NCNC45,97511.3%–

87Nashville, NCNC5,91111.1%–

88Bessemer City, NCNC5,83410.9%–

89Charlotte, NCNC964,78410.8%–

90Morganton, NCNC17,84910.6%–

91Mount Holly, NCNC19,03310.6%–

92Havelock, NCNC17,43010.5%–

93Waxhaw, NCNC23,14010.5%–

94Mooresville, NCNC55,84210.2%–

95Aberdeen, NCNC10,06610.1%–

96Swannanoa, NCNC6,90110.0%–

97Burlington, NCNC61,4969.9%–

98Belmont, NCNC16,4159.7%–

99Wendell, NCNC19,6879.5%–

100Wake Forest, NCNC58,1479.3%–

101Mebane, NCNC21,9529.3%–

102Long View, NCNC5,3879.3%–

103Fletcher, NCNC8,3739.2%–

104Black Mountain, NCNC8,4919.0%–

105Mocksville, NCNC6,2828.9%–

106Trinity, NCNC7,2748.5%–

107Kernersville, NCNC29,1288.5%–

108Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7318.3%–

109Huntersville, NCNC68,5358.0%–

110Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6377.8%–

111Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.7%–

112Morrisville, NCNC32,4667.4%–

113Cornelius, NCNC35,0947.3%–

114Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8757.2%–

115Sawmills, NCNC5,1057.1%–

116Davidson, NCNC16,6627.0%–

117Half Moon, NCNC7,3786.9%–

118Gibsonville, NCNC9,8766.9%–

119Butner, NCNC8,1126.8%–

120Surf City, NCNC5,1426.8%–

121Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2876.7%–

122Etowah, NCNC7,9686.6%–

123Apex, NCNC80,4196.5%–

124Hope Mills, NCNC18,3246.4%–

125Walkertown, NCNC6,1205.9%–

126Cramerton, NCNC5,7135.9%–

127Rolesville, NCNC12,8395.9%–

128Conover, NCNC8,9385.8%–

129Stallings, NCNC17,7605.8%–

130St. Stephens, NCNC9,4575.6%–

131Pineville, NCNC11,8515.3%–

132Locust, NCNC6,1205.2%–

133Silver Lake, NCNC6,5635.0%–

134Ogden, NCNC8,2495.0%–

135King, NCNC7,9774.9%–

136Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1654.9%–

137Indian Trail, NCNC44,3034.7%–

138Garner, NCNC41,5624.6%–

139Archdale, NCNC12,2544.5%–

140Harrisburg, NCNC20,7423.3%–

141Cary, NCNC183,5823.2%–

142Pinehurst, NCNC18,6703.1%–

143Summerfield, NCNC11,3272.9%–

144Lewisville, NCNC14,4212.5%–

145Knightdale, NCNC23,1442.5%–

146Clemmons, NCNC22,8082.3%–

147Weddington, NCNC14,5172.3%–

148Matthews, NCNC32,7692.2%–

149Westport, NCNC5,9151.1%–

150Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5051.0%–

151Mint Hill, NCNC29,4761.0%–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

Download CSV (full list, 151 rows)

UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS