Poverty Rate in North Carolina

ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

Poverty Rate
13.0% +3.4% vs nat'l
Rank #35 of 52
33th %ile

How North Carolina Compares

North Carolina
13.0%
National
12.6%
3.4% above

State Ranking

Rank State Value
#32 Arizona 12.5%
#33 Florida 12.6%
#34 Missouri 12.6%
#35 North Carolina 13.0%
#36 Michigan 13.2%
#37 Ohio 13.3%
#38 Georgia 13.4%
View full state ranking →

Highest Poverty Counties in North Carolina

# County Poverty
1 Camden County 6.1%
2 Dare County 6.6%
3 Graham County 6.7%
4 Currituck County 7.5%
5 Union County 7.7%
6 Wake County 8.1%
7 Brunswick County 9.2%
8 Cabarrus County 9.3%
9 Davie County 9.4%
10 Gates County 9.4%

Lowest Poverty Counties in North Carolina

# County Poverty
100 Robeson County 27.2%
99 Scotland County 25.8%
98 Watauga County 25.5%
97 Richmond County 25.2%
96 Washington County 24.1%
95 Hertford County 22.9%
94 Halifax County 22.8%
93 Hyde County 22.2%
92 Bladen County 22.0%
91 Lenoir County 22.0%

Poverty Rate in North Carolina

North Carolina has a poverty rate of 13.0%, ranking #35 of 52 among all 52 states and territories. This is 3.4% above the national value of 12.6%.

Across North Carolina's 100 counties, poverty rate ranges from 27.2% to 6.1%. The county with the highest value is Camden County at 6.1%.

Percentage of the population living below the federal poverty line.

About this data

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates (2024). All values are estimates derived from survey samples and are subject to margin of error. For more information, see our methodology.