RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 151 SHOWN OF 151

Most residents in poverty, North Carolina cities · 1990

North Carolina cities with the most residents living below the poverty line, as of the 1990 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of people, not the poverty rate. This list covers the 151 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 151 is 726.

North CarolinaAll statesPop > 5KAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPRESIDENTS IN POVERTYVS –

01Charlotte, NCNC964,78442,897–

02Raleigh, NCNC506,30624,544–

03Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27121,821–

04Greensboro, NCNC308,66721,247–

05Durham, NCNC305,56120,357–

06Fayetteville, NCNC209,12014,196–

07Wilmington, NCNC126,80912,276–

08Greenville, NCNC96,44311,979–

09Asheville, NCNC93,5239,783–

10Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1208,892–

11High Point, NCNC120,5718,843–

12Wilson, NCNC49,5728,685–

13Goldsboro, NCNC35,0128,616–

14Gastonia, NCNC87,0677,765–

15Kinston, NCNC19,7056,363–

16Chapel Hill, NCNC63,5656,257–

17Lumberton, NCNC18,9555,443–

18Boone, NCNC19,9295,293–

19New Bern, NCNC34,7244,028–

20Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6224,021–

21Burlington, NCNC61,4963,897–

22Henderson, NCNC15,0133,793–

23Salisbury, NCNC36,8793,597–

24Jacksonville, NCNC72,7323,569–

25Kannapolis, NCNC61,7083,492–

26Laurinburg, NCNC14,5823,419–

27Carrboro, NCNC20,9623,400–

28Concord, NCNC114,5983,318–

29Hickory, NCNC45,9753,194–

30Lexington, NCNC20,2383,075–

31Sanford, NCNC34,1383,048–

32Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3862,931–

33Shelby, NCNC23,3092,827–

34Statesville, NCNC32,1812,762–

35Monroe, NCNC42,6442,691–

36Lenoir, NCNC18,3722,491–

37Washington, NCNC9,9102,475–

38Eden, NCNC15,5002,468–

39Reidsville, NCNC14,6922,254–

40Clinton, NCNC8,4662,211–

41Dunn, NCNC8,8142,203–

42Havelock, NCNC17,4302,138–

43Albemarle, NCNC17,7692,108–

44Asheboro, NCNC27,9902,100–

45Thomasville, NCNC27,7332,057–

46Oxford, NCNC8,9851,727–

47Williamston, NCNC5,0861,620–

48Morganton, NCNC17,8491,599–

49Spring Lake, NCNC11,2521,595–

50Roxboro, NCNC8,3801,583–

51Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1171,569–

52Southern Pines, NCNC17,3571,532–

53Rockingham, NCNC8,8151,490–

54Hendersonville, NCNC15,8671,478–

55Tarboro, NCNC10,9791,478–

56Cary, NCNC183,5821,394–

57Forest City, NCNC7,4101,331–

58Smithfield, NCNC13,1141,321–

59Waynesville, NCNC11,0061,320–

60Graham, NCNC20,1311,233–

61Mount Airy, NCNC10,6821,195–

62Lincolnton, NCNC12,4651,192–

63Ayden, NCNC5,2631,181–

64Newton, NCNC13,8221,159–

65Morehead City, NCNC10,4341,155–

66Hamlet, NCNC5,8701,123–

67Selma, NCNC7,4061,068–

68Piney Green, NCNC14,0781,031–

69Cullowhee, NCNC7,973959–

70Mooresville, NCNC55,842949–

71Kernersville, NCNC29,128917–

72Marion, NCNC7,440839–

73Belmont, NCNC16,415820–

74Mount Holly, NCNC19,033817–

75Brevard, NCNC8,098769–

76Wadesboro, NCNC5,035726–

77Clayton, NCNC32,633706–

78Garner, NCNC41,562692–

79Siler City, NCNC8,155665–

80Cherryville, NCNC6,523618–

81Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,536600–

82Dallas, NCNC6,392560–

83Wake Forest, NCNC58,147536–

84East Flat Rock, NCNC6,323533–

85Carolina Beach, NCNC6,870529–

86Hope Mills, NCNC18,324521–

87Hillsborough, NCNC9,778515–

88Bessemer City, NCNC5,834510–

89Black Mountain, NCNC8,491487–

90St. Stephens, NCNC9,457486–

91Winterville, NCNC10,973480–

92Zebulon, NCNC11,933479–

93Trinity, NCNC7,274464–

94Mebane, NCNC21,952440–

95Half Moon, NCNC7,378437–

96Woodfin, NCNC8,229428–

97Angier, NCNC9,410427–

98Nashville, NCNC5,911384–

99Swannanoa, NCNC6,901363–

100Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,731351–

101Leland, NCNC35,731338–

102Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,637333–

103Lillington, NCNC5,040327–

104Apex, NCNC80,419324–

105Wrightsboro, NCNC6,287321–

106Butner, NCNC8,112320–

107Conover, NCNC8,938319–

108Archdale, NCNC12,254309–

109Matthews, NCNC32,769304–

110Mocksville, NCNC6,282302–

111Long View, NCNC5,387298–

112Sawmills, NCNC5,105285–

113Davidson, NCNC16,662284–

114Aberdeen, NCNC10,066274–

115Wendell, NCNC19,687266–

116Stokesdale, NCNC6,133259–

117Fletcher, NCNC8,373256–

118Huntersville, NCNC68,535240–

119Holly Springs, NCNC50,288237–

120Gibsonville, NCNC9,876229–

121Silver Lake, NCNC6,563204–

122Creedmoor, NCNC5,046201–

123King, NCNC7,977200–

124Pittsboro, NCNC5,054194–

125Cornelius, NCNC35,094188–

126Holly Ridge, NCNC5,908183–

127Ogden, NCNC8,249168–

128Pinehurst, NCNC18,670160–

129Pineville, NCNC11,851155–

130Cramerton, NCNC5,713141–

131Clemmons, NCNC22,808140–

132Waxhaw, NCNC23,140136–

133Etowah, NCNC7,968132–

134Stallings, NCNC17,760128–

135Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,875121–

136Mint Hill, NCNC29,476114–

137Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,165108–

138Locust, NCNC6,120101–

139Indian Trail, NCNC44,30391–

140Weddington, NCNC14,51786–

141Lewisville, NCNC14,42181–

142Shallotte, NCNC5,33575–

143Morrisville, NCNC32,46675–

144Walkertown, NCNC6,12071–

145Surf City, NCNC5,14264–

146Summerfield, NCNC11,32763–

147Harrisburg, NCNC20,74254–

148Knightdale, NCNC23,14447–

149Rolesville, NCNC12,83934–

150Westport, NCNC5,91514–

151Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50513–

SHOWING 1–151 OF 151

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS