RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 100 SHOWN OF 100

Highest poverty rate, North Carolina counties · 1990

North Carolina counties with the highest share of residents below the federal poverty line (1990 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 –

01Warren County, NCNC18,89828.2%–

02Swain County, NCNC14,02427.6%–

03Bertie County, NCNC17,08625.9%–

04Halifax County, NCNC46,53425.6%–

05Tyrrell County, NCNC3,53725.0%–

06Hertford County, NCNC19,01525.0%–

07Graham County, NCNC8,19024.9%–

08Robeson County, NCNC119,94124.1%–

09Hyde County, NCNC4,55424.0%–

10Columbus County, NCNC50,48724.0%–

11Northampton County, NCNC16,49123.6%–

12Martin County, NCNC21,60122.3%–

13Pitt County, NCNC182,93622.1%–

14Bladen County, NCNC30,00721.9%–

15Perquimans County, NCNC13,49021.5%–

16Watauga County, NCNC54,78621.5%–

17Hoke County, NCNC56,93921.1%–

18Edgecombe County, NCNC49,12120.9%–

19Sampson County, NCNC61,50420.7%–

20Washington County, NCNC10,63820.4%–

21Cherokee County, NCNC30,83020.4%–

22Madison County, NCNC22,55320.4%–

23Jones County, NCNC9,57520.2%–

24Alleghany County, NCNC11,47920.1%–

25Lenoir County, NCNC55,83720.0%–

26Pasquotank County, NCNC42,20119.7%–

27Wilson County, NCNC81,15019.7%–

28Vance County, NCNC42,63819.6%–

29Beaufort County, NCNC44,67019.5%–

30Duplin County, NCNC51,57119.1%–

31Greene County, NCNC20,70019.1%–

32Pamlico County, NCNC12,75818.9%–

33Yancey County, NCNC19,08418.7%–

34Scotland County, NCNC33,32218.6%–

35Ashe County, NCNC27,51418.4%–

36Clay County, NCNC12,23917.9%–

37Chowan County, NCNC14,08217.7%–

38Anson County, NCNC21,75817.6%–

39Harnett County, NCNC150,13717.5%–

40Pender County, NCNC72,11117.2%–

41Richmond County, NCNC42,04116.8%–

42Jackson County, NCNC45,03916.7%–

43Macon County, NCNC39,23216.5%–

44Caswell County, NCNC22,56316.2%–

45Camden County, NCNC11,31516.1%–

46Mitchell County, NCNC15,06216.0%–

47Gates County, NCNC10,23415.7%–

48Brunswick County, NCNC174,70215.4%–

49Wayne County, NCNC122,27815.2%–

50Lee County, NCNC70,25814.7%–

51Avery County, NCNC18,11014.6%–

52Franklin County, NCNC82,03714.5%–

53Cumberland County, NCNC338,47314.4%–

54Montgomery County, NCNC26,40314.4%–

55Johnston County, NCNC256,44814.3%–

56New Hanover County, NCNC245,95914.0%–

57Orange County, NCNC152,49813.9%–

58Craven County, NCNC105,02513.6%–

59Nash County, NCNC99,36513.6%–

60Transylvania County, NCNC34,21113.5%–

61Granville County, NCNC61,42113.5%–

62Wilkes County, NCNC66,23313.3%–

63Person County, NCNC40,63613.0%–

64Haywood County, NCNC63,36912.7%–

65Rutherford County, NCNC65,74512.3%–

66Rockingham County, NCNC94,19512.2%–

67Onslow County, NCNC217,17512.1%–

68Yadkin County, NCNC38,32512.0%–

69Durham County, NCNC347,24011.9%–

70Carteret County, NCNC70,46911.6%–

71McDowell County, NCNC45,19811.4%–

72Surry County, NCNC72,28711.4%–

73Buncombe County, NCNC277,41711.4%–

74Moore County, NCNC110,61911.1%–

75Stanly County, NCNC68,83011.0%–

76Cleveland County, NCNC103,32511.0%–

77Caldwell County, NCNC81,10510.8%–

78Gaston County, NCNC246,55810.6%–

79Forsyth County, NCNC401,71810.5%–

80Henderson County, NCNC122,37510.5%–

81Burke County, NCNC88,65510.1%–

82Guilford County, NCNC562,23410.1%–

83Currituck County, NCNC33,15810.1%–

84Alexander County, NCNC36,9589.8%–

85Davidson County, NCNC180,1829.8%–

86Stokes County, NCNC46,1269.8%–

87Chatham County, NCNC85,1119.7%–

88Polk County, NCNC20,5339.6%–

89Lincoln County, NCNC98,6549.6%–

90Mecklenburg County, NCNC1,233,3839.6%–

91Rowan County, NCNC155,0969.4%–

92Iredell County, NCNC211,7989.4%–

93Alamance County, NCNC186,1778.9%–

94Union County, NCNC267,6748.4%–

95Wake County, NCNC1,257,2358.4%–

96Davie County, NCNC45,8558.4%–

97Randolph County, NCNC149,5168.3%–

98Dare County, NCNC38,2458.3%–

99Cabarrus County, NCNC249,7258.1%–

100Catawba County, NCNC170,1727.1%–

SHOWING 1–100 OF 100

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