RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 170 SHOWN OF 170

Highest poverty rate, North Carolina cities · 2010

North Carolina cities with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2023 ACS). This list covers the 170 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 2000

01Boone, NCNC19,92948.9%+32%

02Forest City, NCNC7,41038.5%+100%

03Williamston, NCNC5,08637.4%+29%

04Roxboro, NCNC8,38036.7%+118%

05Laurinburg, NCNC14,58236.3%+53%

06Rockingham, NCNC8,81536.1%+77%

07Cullowhee, NCNC7,97336.1%−13%

08Selma, NCNC7,40634.8%+16%

09Kinston, NCNC19,70534.1%+48%

10Henderson, NCNC15,01333.3%+18%

11Greenville, NCNC96,44330.3%+16%

12Lumberton, NCNC18,95529.9%+15%

13East Flat Rock, NCNC6,32329.1%+41%

14Lillington, NCNC5,04028.5%+40%

15Elizabeth City, NCNC19,62228.1%+3%

16Asheboro, NCNC27,99027.6%+75%

17Zebulon, NCNC11,93327.4%+71%

18Thomasville, NCNC27,73327.3%+69%

19Morganton, NCNC17,84926.9%+99%

20Lexington, NCNC20,23826.4%+24%

21Shelby, NCNC23,30925.4%+43%

22Wilson, NCNC49,57225.4%+17%

23Washington, NCNC9,91025.3%−12%

24Clinton, NCNC8,46625.1%+8%

25Dunn, NCNC8,81424.5%+4%

26Siler City, NCNC8,15524.5%+66%

27Eden, NCNC15,50024.4%+42%

28New Bern, NCNC34,72424.1%+24%

29Lincolnton, NCNC12,46523.8%+37%

30Woodfin, NCNC8,22923.7%+10%

31Marion, NCNC7,44023.6%+37%

32Goldsboro, NCNC35,01223.5%+22%

33Statesville, NCNC32,18122.9%+42%

34Spring Lake, NCNC11,25222.8%−4%

35Ayden, NCNC5,26322.6%−14%

36Salisbury, NCNC36,87922.4%+40%

37Wilmington, NCNC126,80922.4%+14%

38Hendersonville, NCNC15,86722.2%+33%

39Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56522.2%+3%

40Waynesville, NCNC11,00621.7%+40%

41Lenoir, NCNC18,37221.6%+51%

42Hamlet, NCNC5,87021.4%−4%

43Smithfield, NCNC13,11421.4%+4%

44Sanford, NCNC34,13821.3%+24%

45Burlington, NCNC61,49621.3%+56%

46Mount Airy, NCNC10,68221.1%+6%

47Pittsboro, NCNC5,05421.1%+15%

48Gastonia, NCNC87,06720.9%+40%

49Wadesboro, NCNC5,03520.9%−17%

50Tarboro, NCNC10,97920.6%+34%

51Reidsville, NCNC14,69220.6%+36%

52Asheville, NCNC93,52320.5%+32%

53Oxford, NCNC8,98520.2%−5%

54Elon, NCNC11,36619.9%–

55Hillsborough, NCNC9,77819.8%+58%

56Monroe, NCNC42,64419.7%+14%

57Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27119.3%+27%

58High Point, NCNC120,57119.2%+45%

59Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12019.0%−6%

60Kings Mountain, NCNC12,11718.9%−2%

61Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,38618.6%−1%

62Sawmills, NCNC5,10518.4%+108%

63Bessemer City, NCNC5,83418.4%+55%

64Albemarle, NCNC17,76918.3%+17%

65Greensboro, NCNC308,66718.1%+48%

66Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90817.9%−26%

67Mebane, NCNC21,95217.9%+52%

68Durham, NCNC305,56117.9%+20%

69Dallas, NCNC6,39217.8%−7%

70Swannanoa, NCNC6,90117.6%+55%

71Hickory, NCNC45,97517.4%+54%

72Kannapolis, NCNC61,70817.3%+64%

73Morehead City, NCNC10,43416.8%+15%

74Aberdeen, NCNC10,06616.7%+21%

75Carrboro, NCNC20,96216.3%−14%

76Long View, NCNC5,38716.3%+6%

77Butner, NCNC8,11216.3%+209%

78Fayetteville, NCNC209,12016.1%+9%

79Mocksville, NCNC6,28215.2%+21%

80Graham, NCNC20,13115.1%+1%

81Newton, NCNC13,82214.9%+23%

82Wendell, NCNC19,68714.8%+18%

83Pineville, NCNC11,85114.7%+125%

84Angier, NCNC9,41014.7%−10%

85Havelock, NCNC17,43014.6%+70%

86Raleigh, NCNC506,30614.6%+27%

87Mount Holly, NCNC19,03314.4%+33%

88Hampstead, NCNC9,29214.2%–

89Cherryville, NCNC6,52314.1%+54%

90Charlotte, NCNC964,78413.9%+31%

91Jacksonville, NCNC72,73213.8%−2%

92Wrightsboro, NCNC6,28713.8%+31%

93St. Stephens, NCNC9,45713.3%+88%

94Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87013.3%+42%

95Archer Lodge, NCNC5,64913.2%–

96Clayton, NCNC32,63313.1%+15%

97Hope Mills, NCNC18,32412.8%+63%

98Southern Pines, NCNC17,35712.4%−15%

99Creedmoor, NCNC5,04612.4%+8%

100Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,87512.0%+26%

101Concord, NCNC114,59811.7%+44%

102Piney Green, NCNC14,07811.7%+11%

103Brevard, NCNC8,09811.5%+7%

104Stokesdale, NCNC6,13311.5%+118%

105Conover, NCNC8,93811.3%−7%

106Leland, NCNC35,73111.2%−40%

107Kings Grant, NCNC9,00311.0%+64%

108Black Mountain, NCNC8,49110.9%+8%

109Belmont, NCNC16,41510.8%+13%

110Gibsonville, NCNC9,87610.5%+18%

111Kernersville, NCNC29,12810.5%+24%

112Rolesville, NCNC12,83910.4%−17%

113Shallotte, NCNC5,33510.2%+28%

114Etowah, NCNC7,96810.1%+72%

115Archdale, NCNC12,2549.7%+71%

116Trinity, NCNC7,2749.7%+13%

117Winterville, NCNC10,9739.6%−17%

118Mooresville, NCNC55,8429.6%+33%

119Fletcher, NCNC8,3739.2%+26%

120Midland, NCNC5,1519.2%–

121Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,4948.9%+25%

122Davidson, NCNC16,6628.8%+46%

123Waxhaw, NCNC23,1408.5%+98%

124Murraysville, NCNC16,3398.4%−13%

125Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5368.3%−25%

126Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,7318.3%+0%

127Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1658.2%−8%

128Cramerton, NCNC5,7138.2%+67%

129Oak Island, NCNC9,3378.1%+1%

130Lewisville, NCNC14,4218.0%+224%

131Mint Hill, NCNC29,4767.8%+61%

132Locust, NCNC6,1207.8%+91%

133Silver Lake, NCNC6,5637.6%−16%

134Wake Forest, NCNC58,1477.5%−15%

135Mills River, NCNC7,5047.4%–

136Surf City, NCNC5,1427.4%−52%

137Walkertown, NCNC6,1206.9%+41%

138Half Moon, NCNC7,3786.8%−11%

139Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,6376.5%+12%

140Nashville, NCNC5,9116.3%−40%

141Northchase, NCNC5,8966.2%–

142Midway, NCNC5,1045.9%–

143Ogden, NCNC8,2495.8%+1%

144Indian Trail, NCNC44,3035.8%−0%

145Matthews, NCNC32,7695.7%+41%

146Huntersville, NCNC68,5355.7%+86%

147Pinehurst, NCNC18,6705.6%+102%

148Clemmons, NCNC22,8085.6%+57%

149Summerfield, NCNC11,3275.5%+42%

150King, NCNC7,9775.4%+34%

151Knightdale, NCNC23,1445.1%+10%

152Moyock, NCNC5,6845.0%–

153Cary, NCNC183,5825.0%+47%

154Garner, NCNC41,5624.8%−30%

155Cornelius, NCNC35,0944.6%+5%

156Harrisburg, NCNC20,7424.1%+187%

157Holly Springs, NCNC50,2883.7%−22%

158Unionville, NCNC7,3223.4%−36%

159Morrisville, NCNC32,4663.4%−27%

160Stallings, NCNC17,7603.2%−36%

161Whispering Pines, NCNC5,5053.1%+166%

162Oak Ridge, NCNC7,8962.8%−27%

163Apex, NCNC80,4192.7%+40%

164Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,5662.6%−22%

165St. James, NCNC7,3182.0%–

166Porters Neck, NCNC7,6541.9%–

167Carolina Shores, NCNC5,5401.5%−69%

168Marvin, NCNC7,0401.5%−18%

169Weddington, NCNC14,5171.5%+2%

170Westport, NCNC5,9150.7%−87%

SHOWING 1–170 OF 170

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