RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Most residents in poverty, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 2024 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS 2000

01Charlotte, NCNC964,784105,459+84%

02Raleigh, NCNC506,30657,181+81%

03Greensboro, NCNC308,66751,241+87%

04Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27144,689+58%

05Fayetteville, NCNC209,12037,305+108%

06Durham, NCNC305,56134,041+22%

07Greenville, NCNC96,44322,888+45%

08Wilmington, NCNC126,80919,310+30%

09High Point, NCNC120,57118,226+61%

10Gastonia, NCNC87,06713,505+36%

11Asheville, NCNC93,52313,476+26%

12Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56511,449+9%

13Wilson, NCNC49,57211,117+16%

14Rocky Mount, NCNC55,12010,680−5%

15Concord, NCNC114,59810,458+129%

16Boone, NCNC19,92910,259+106%

17Cary, NCNC183,58210,146+213%

18Burlington, NCNC61,4969,749+59%

19Salisbury, NCNC36,8799,436+122%

20Jacksonville, NCNC72,7329,033−4%

21Goldsboro, NCNC35,0127,825+4%

22Hickory, NCNC45,9757,575+80%

23Kannapolis, NCNC61,7087,276+87%

24Sanford, NCNC34,1386,919+74%

25Statesville, NCNC32,1816,109+62%

26Lumberton, NCNC18,9555,811+8%

27New Bern, NCNC34,7245,648+26%

28Lexington, NCNC20,2385,467+29%

29Kinston, NCNC19,7055,445−0%

30Asheboro, NCNC27,9905,431+59%

31Monroe, NCNC42,6444,896+8%

32Laurinburg, NCNC14,5824,694+25%

33Morganton, NCNC17,8494,541+94%

34Thomasville, NCNC27,7334,441+39%

35Albemarle, NCNC17,7694,173+70%

36Henderson, NCNC15,0134,066−11%

37Shelby, NCNC23,3093,882+12%

38Mooresville, NCNC55,8423,809+182%

39Cullowhee, NCNC7,9733,655+146%

40Kernersville, NCNC29,1283,503+142%

41Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,5363,328+279%

42Smithfield, NCNC13,1143,313+40%

43Reidsville, NCNC14,6923,082+40%

44Graham, NCNC20,1313,030+58%

45Eden, NCNC15,5002,951+8%

46Garner, NCNC41,5622,904+140%

47Mount Airy, NCNC10,6822,863+69%

48Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1172,765+48%

49Rockingham, NCNC8,8152,740+39%

50Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3862,734−14%

51Roxboro, NCNC8,3802,722+86%

52Siler City, NCNC8,1552,710+165%

53Lenoir, NCNC18,3722,671+11%

54Lincolnton, NCNC12,4652,669+55%

55Carrboro, NCNC20,9622,576−19%

56Hope Mills, NCNC18,3242,525+187%

57Oxford, NCNC8,9852,524+42%

58Havelock, NCNC17,4302,523+31%

59Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6222,511−46%

60Wake Forest, NCNC58,1472,371+113%

61Forest City, NCNC7,4102,361+63%

62Mint Hill, NCNC29,4762,313+220%

63Indian Trail, NCNC44,3032,250+227%

64Washington, NCNC9,9102,249−18%

65Hendersonville, NCNC15,8672,243+29%

66Elon, NCNC11,3662,202–

67Holly Springs, NCNC50,2882,162+395%

68Spring Lake, NCNC11,2522,046+7%

69Anderson Creek, NCNC13,9272,031–

70Tarboro, NCNC10,9791,992+17%

71Huntersville, NCNC68,5351,960+156%

72Clinton, NCNC8,4661,956−3%

73Williamston, NCNC5,0861,856+10%

74Leland, NCNC35,7311,804+396%

75Marion, NCNC7,4401,784+109%

76Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,777+58%

77Cornelius, NCNC35,0941,764+235%

78Clayton, NCNC32,6331,722+116%

79Selma, NCNC7,4061,685−5%

80Dunn, NCNC8,8141,682−22%

81Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,670+17%

82Newton, NCNC13,8221,598+5%

83Apex, NCNC80,4191,588+314%

84Southern Pines, NCNC17,3571,572−1%

85St. Stephens, NCNC9,4571,536+129%

86Pineville, NCNC11,8511,530+577%

87Piney Green, NCNC14,0781,518+24%

88Mount Holly, NCNC19,0331,493+43%

89Clemmons, NCNC22,8081,423+192%

90Lewisville, NCNC14,4211,412+551%

91Mebane, NCNC21,9521,401+63%

92Wadesboro, NCNC5,0351,363+52%

93Conover, NCNC8,9381,346+67%

94Kings Grant, NCNC9,0031,322+154%

95Northchase, NCNC5,8961,317–

96Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,289−4%

97Belmont, NCNC16,4151,230+48%

98Butner, NCNC8,1121,211+297%

99Brevard, NCNC8,0981,189+63%

100Mocksville, NCNC6,2821,166+122%

101Swannanoa, NCNC6,9011,157+146%

102Ayden, NCNC5,2631,156−5%

103Etowah, NCNC7,9681,145+602%

104Woodfin, NCNC8,2291,132+66%

105Matthews, NCNC32,7691,121+25%

106Davidson, NCNC16,6621,094+154%

107Knightdale, NCNC23,1441,069+285%

108Winterville, NCNC10,9731,053+90%

109Waxhaw, NCNC23,1401,004+796%

110Morrisville, NCNC32,466969+305%

111Aberdeen, NCNC10,066967+107%

112Nashville, NCNC5,911967+113%

113Bessemer City, NCNC5,834916+51%

114Creedmoor, NCNC5,046910+255%

115Archer Lodge, NCNC5,649901–

116Hampstead, NCNC9,292881–

117Trinity, NCNC7,274828+44%

118Stallings, NCNC17,760803+402%

119East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323794−7%

120Pinehurst, NCNC18,670790+193%

121Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637785+90%

122Summerfield, NCNC11,327785+191%

123Oak Island, NCNC9,337782+48%

124Zebulon, NCNC11,933780+20%

125Hillsborough, NCNC9,778774+13%

126Cherryville, NCNC6,523773+58%

127Harrisburg, NCNC20,742735+1031%

128Murraysville, NCNC16,339732+4%

129Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731710+46%

130Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287674+43%

131Angier, NCNC9,410663+19%

132Unionville, NCNC7,322654+154%

133Dallas, NCNC6,392640−2%

134Silver Lake, NCNC6,563636+21%

135Walkertown, NCNC6,120633+220%

136Archdale, NCNC12,254626+23%

137Fletcher, NCNC8,373613+99%

138Half Moon, NCNC7,378582+14%

139Long View, NCNC5,387567−22%

140Pittsboro, NCNC5,054556+36%

141Weddington, NCNC14,517553+453%

142Gibsonville, NCNC9,876545+41%

143Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875543+92%

144King, NCNC7,977518+116%

145Locust, NCNC6,120507+412%

146Marvin, NCNC7,040506+2563%

147Black Mountain, NCNC8,491505−34%

148Sawmills, NCNC5,105500+14%

149Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165490+17%

150Shallotte, NCNC5,335479+335%

151Spout Springs, NCNC11,242472–

152Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,906420–

153Wendell, NCNC19,687417−22%

154Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870407−8%

155Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,566405+366%

156Ogden, NCNC8,249395+24%

157Moyock, NCNC5,684386–

158Cramerton, NCNC5,713340+131%

159Stokesdale, NCNC6,133336+95%

160Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,494314−7%

161St. James, NCNC7,318305–

162Porters Neck, NCNC7,654294–

163Oak Ridge, NCNC7,896281+86%

164Whispering Pines, NCNC5,505275+1046%

165Midway, NCNC5,104245–

166Surf City, NCNC5,142242+13%

167Barbecue, NCNC5,910233–

168Lillington, NCNC5,040229−61%

169Carolina Shores, NCNC5,540198+175%

170Midland, NCNC5,151198–

171Mills River, NCNC7,504187–

172Westport, NCNC5,915151+42%

173Rolesville, NCNC12,839122+7%

174Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90838−81%

175Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04936–

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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