RANKING · 2024 ACS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Highest poverty rate, North Carolina counties

North Carolina counties with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (2024 ACS). This list covers the 100 counties in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPPOVERTY RATEVS 2000

01Robeson County, NCNC119,94127.2%+19%

02Scotland County, NCNC33,32225.8%+26%

03Watauga County, NCNC54,78625.5%+42%

04Richmond County, NCNC42,04125.2%+29%

05Washington County, NCNC10,63824.1%+11%

06Hertford County, NCNC19,01522.9%+25%

07Halifax County, NCNC46,53422.8%−5%

08Hyde County, NCNC4,55422.2%+44%

09Bladen County, NCNC30,00722.0%+5%

10Lenoir County, NCNC55,83722.0%+32%

11Sampson County, NCNC61,50421.8%+24%

12Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12121.7%+11%

13Anson County, NCNC21,75821.7%+22%

14Northampton County, NCNC16,49121.1%−1%

15Warren County, NCNC18,89821.1%+9%

16Greene County, NCNC20,70021.0%+4%

17Duplin County, NCNC51,57120.5%+5%

18Martin County, NCNC21,60120.4%+1%

19Pitt County, NCNC182,93619.8%−2%

20Wilson County, NCNC81,15019.8%+7%

21Vance County, NCNC42,63819.8%−3%

22Swain County, NCNC14,02419.1%+4%

23Chowan County, NCNC14,08219.1%+8%

24Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53718.7%−20%

25Caswell County, NCNC22,56318.6%+29%

26Jones County, NCNC9,57518.4%+9%

27Columbus County, NCNC50,48718.2%−20%

28Jackson County, NCNC45,03918.0%+19%

29Beaufort County, NCNC44,67017.8%−8%

30Person County, NCNC40,63617.5%+46%

31Wayne County, NCNC122,27817.3%+25%

32Hoke County, NCNC56,93917.1%−3%

33Surry County, NCNC72,28716.8%+35%

34Rutherford County, NCNC65,74516.8%+20%

35Wilkes County, NCNC66,23316.7%+41%

36Cumberland County, NCNC338,47316.7%+31%

37Cleveland County, NCNC103,32516.6%+25%

38Lee County, NCNC70,25816.5%+28%

39Rockingham County, NCNC94,19516.3%+27%

40Bertie County, NCNC17,08616.1%−31%

41Rowan County, NCNC155,09616.0%+51%

42Alleghany County, NCNC11,47916.0%−7%

43Burke County, NCNC88,65515.6%+46%

44Montgomery County, NCNC26,40315.4%+1%

45Stanly County, NCNC68,83015.2%+42%

46Granville County, NCNC61,42115.2%+30%

47Yancey County, NCNC19,08415.2%−4%

48Pamlico County, NCNC12,75815.2%−1%

49McDowell County, NCNC45,19814.8%+28%

50Guilford County, NCNC562,23414.6%+38%

51Forsyth County, NCNC401,71814.5%+31%

52Randolph County, NCNC149,51614.5%+58%

53Polk County, NCNC20,53314.0%+39%

54Yadkin County, NCNC38,32514.0%+40%

55Harnett County, NCNC150,13713.7%−8%

56Craven County, NCNC105,02513.7%+5%

57Gaston County, NCNC246,55813.5%+24%

58Ashe County, NCNC27,51413.5%+0%

59Caldwell County, NCNC81,10513.4%+25%

60Alamance County, NCNC186,17713.4%+20%

61Transylvania County, NCNC34,21113.2%+39%

62Haywood County, NCNC63,36913.1%+14%

63Mitchell County, NCNC15,06212.9%−7%

64Clay County, NCNC12,23912.9%+13%

65Davidson County, NCNC180,18212.8%+28%

66Catawba County, NCNC170,17212.7%+40%

67Alexander County, NCNC36,95812.6%+48%

68Orange County, NCNC152,49812.5%−12%

69Cherokee County, NCNC30,83012.4%−19%

70New Hanover County, NCNC245,95912.3%−6%

71Madison County, NCNC22,55312.1%−21%

72Nash County, NCNC99,36511.8%−12%

73Buncombe County, NCNC277,41711.8%+3%

74Macon County, NCNC39,23211.6%−8%

75Onslow County, NCNC217,17511.6%−10%

76Henderson County, NCNC122,37511.6%+19%

77Durham County, NCNC347,24011.5%−14%

78Lincoln County, NCNC98,65411.2%+23%

79Stokes County, NCNC46,12611.2%+23%

80Franklin County, NCNC82,03711.1%−12%

81Chatham County, NCNC85,11111.0%+14%

82Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20111.0%−40%

83Johnston County, NCNC256,44810.6%−17%

84Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,38310.4%+13%

85Avery County, NCNC18,11010.2%−33%

86Moore County, NCNC110,61910.1%−11%

87Carteret County, NCNC70,46910.1%−6%

88Iredell County, NCNC211,79810.0%+23%

89Perquimans County, NCNC13,4909.8%−45%

90Pender County, NCNC72,1119.7%−28%

91Gates County, NCNC10,2349.4%−45%

92Davie County, NCNC45,8559.4%+9%

93Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7259.3%+31%

94Brunswick County, NCNC174,7029.2%−27%

95Wake County, NCNC1,257,2358.1%+4%

96Union County, NCNC267,6747.7%−6%

97Currituck County, NCNC33,1587.5%−30%

98Graham County, NCNC8,1906.7%−66%

99Dare County, NCNC38,2456.6%−18%

100Camden County, NCNC11,3156.1%−39%

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES