More than 60 years have passed since President Lyndon Johnson declared war on poverty, and yet, poverty remains endemic in the United States. In any given year over the last three decades, anywhere from 31.6 million to 48.8 million Americans were living below the poverty line. Over that period, the annual U.S. poverty rate climbed as high as 15.9%, and never fell below 11.3%.

The effects of poverty extend far beyond economics. According to the latest Pulse Survey from the U.S. Census Bureau, 38% of American adults earning less than $25,000 reported feeling depressed or hopeless on most days, compared to 17% of all adults. Additionally, 27% of adults in the lowest income bracket reported not having enough to eat within the last week, three times the food insufficiency rate among all adults.

In most of the country, including North Carolina, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the poverty line at an annual income of $15,060 for individuals and $31,200 for a family of four. In North Carolina, 13.3% of the population live below these thresholds — and in many towns across the state, the poverty rate is far higher.

Using five-year estimates from the Census’ 2022 American Community Survey, 24/7 Wall St. identified the towns in North Carolina with the highest poverty rates. We considered all places — including cities, towns, and unincorporated communities — with populations between 5,000 and 50,000. Because the presence of colleges and universities can distort economic realities in a given area, places where 20% or more of the population are enrolled in a post-secondary institution were excluded from analysis.

Among the 35 places on this list, poverty rates range from 20.9% to nearly 40%, and in each of these places, the typical household earns less than the statewide median household income of $66,186.

Widespread financial hardship in these areas is partially attributable to a lack of economic opportunity. In most places on this list, the five-year average unemployment rate is higher than the comparable 5.0% jobless rate across North Carolina.

Incomes and job security tend to rise with educational attainment. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical worker with a bachelor’s degree earns 66% more than those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, workers with only a high school education are far more likely to be unemployed than college graduates. In nearly every town on this list, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is below the 33.9% statewide bachelor’s degree attainment rate.

Why It Matters

The United States is, in many ways, the center of gravity of the global economy. The U.S. dollar has been the world’s leading reserve currency since the end of World War II, and American gross domestic product accounts for over a quarter of economic activity worldwide. Despite these advantages, more than one in every 10 Americans have been living below the poverty line for decades. For those facing serious financial hardship, the effects are far reaching. Poverty can negatively impact mental health, social relationships, and life expectancy.

35. Ayden

• Poverty rate: 20.9%
• Median household income: $53,000
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 1.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.6%
• Population: 5,002

34. Lexington

• Poverty rate: 21.0%
• Median household income: $36,868
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.5%
• Population: 19,595

33. Spring Lake

• Poverty rate: 21.4%
• Median household income: $44,447
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 27.1%
• Population: 11,710

32. Sanford

• Poverty rate: 21.5%
• Median household income: $52,951
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8%
• Population: 30,373

31. Albemarle

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $51,673
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.1%
• Population: 16,444

30. Dunn

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $41,843
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.8%
• Population: 8,549

29. Asheboro

• Poverty rate: 21.6%
• Median household income: $44,405
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.7%
• Population: 27,117

28. Marion

• Poverty rate: 21.8%
• Median household income: $48,520
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 9.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
• Population: 7,652

27. Nashville

• Poverty rate: 21.9%
• Median household income: $61,513
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.2%
• Population: 5,624

26. Eden

• Poverty rate: 22.2%
• Median household income: $43,607
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.6%
• Population: 15,349

25. Northchase

• Poverty rate: 22.5%
• Median household income: $52,122
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 18.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.4%
• Population: 5,543

24. Washington

• Poverty rate: 23.0%
• Median household income: $42,821
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.2%
• Population: 9,759

23. Salisbury

• Poverty rate: 23.3%
• Median household income: $48,888
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.5%
• Population: 35,437

22. Mocksville

• Poverty rate: 23.7%
• Median household income: $46,553
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.7%
• Population: 5,908

21. Wilson

• Poverty rate: 23.9%
• Median household income: $46,891
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 8.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.1%
• Population: 47,767

20. Tarboro

• Poverty rate: 24.0%
• Median household income: $43,523
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 3.3%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 26.0%
• Population: 10,696

19. Wadesboro

• Poverty rate: 24.2%
• Median household income: $32,022
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 12.9%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
• Population: 5,004

18. Hamlet

• Poverty rate: 25.1%
• Median household income: $34,798
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.4%
• Population: 6,043

17. Clinton

• Poverty rate: 25.5%
• Median household income: $38,880
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.2%
• Population: 8,362

16. Oxford

• Poverty rate: 25.6%
• Median household income: $42,016
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.4%
• Population: 8,685

15. Kings Mountain

• Poverty rate: 26.1%
• Median household income: $45,301
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.3%
• Population: 11,246

14. Henderson

• Poverty rate: 26.6%
• Median household income: $37,670
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.1%
• Population: 14,997

13. Selma

• Poverty rate: 27.3%
• Median household income: $29,325
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.0%
• Population: 6,449

12. Smithfield

• Poverty rate: 27.8%
• Median household income: $37,000
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.5%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 25.1%
• Population: 11,527

11. Morganton

• Poverty rate: 28.0%
• Median household income: $47,715
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 5.4%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.0%
• Population: 17,457

10. Rockingham

• Poverty rate: 28.2%
• Median household income: $38,750
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 20.8%
• Population: 9,174

9. Kinston

• Poverty rate: 28.2%
• Median household income: $35,653
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 13.6%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
• Population: 19,704

8. Siler City

• Poverty rate: 28.9%
• Median household income: $48,374
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 2.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.7%
• Population: 7,847

7. Lumberton

• Poverty rate: 29.4%
• Median household income: $41,314
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 6.7%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.6%
• Population: 19,099

6. Reidsville

• Poverty rate: 29.8%
• Median household income: $35,061
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.0%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.7%
• Population: 14,526

5. Mount Airy

• Poverty rate: 31.7%
• Median household income: $34,089
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 7.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.7%
• Population: 10,621

4. Roxboro

• Poverty rate: 32.2%
• Median household income: $39,787
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 4.8%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.1%
• Population: 8,131

3. Williamston

• Poverty rate: 32.8%
• Median household income: $41,182
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 14.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 5,224

2. Laurinburg

• Poverty rate: 33.8%
• Median household income: $38,015
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 11.2%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.0%
• Population: 14,971

1. Forest City

• Poverty rate: 38.9%
• Median household income: $35,232
• 5-yr. avg. unemployment rate: 10.1%
• Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
• Population: 7,357

Rank	Place	Poverty rate (%)	Median household income ($)	Unemployment rate (%)	Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (%)	Total population
1	Forest City, North Carolina	38.9	35,232	10.1	17.2	7,357
2	Laurinburg, North Carolina	33.8	38,015	11.2	19.0	14,971
3	Williamston, North Carolina	32.8	41,182	14.2	17.2	5,224
4	Roxboro, North Carolina	32.2	39,787	4.8	18.1	8,131
5	Mount Airy, North Carolina	31.7	34,089	7.2	24.7	10,621
6	Reidsville, North Carolina	29.8	35,061	10.0	19.7	14,526
7	Lumberton, North Carolina	29.4	41,314	6.7	21.6	19,099
8	Siler City, North Carolina	28.9	48,374	2.8	15.7	7,847
9	Kinston, North Carolina	28.2	35,653	13.6	14.7	19,704
10	Rockingham, North Carolina	28.2	38,750	7.2	20.8	9,174
11	Morganton, North Carolina	28.0	47,715	5.4	24.0	17,457
12	Smithfield, North Carolina	27.8	37,000	6.5	25.1	11,527
13	Selma, North Carolina	27.3	29,325	4.8	13.0	6,449
14	Henderson, North Carolina	26.6	37,670	6.7	17.1	14,997
15	Kings Mountain, North Carolina	26.1	45,301	6.7	17.3	11,246
16	Oxford, North Carolina	25.6	42,016	6.8	23.4	8,685
17	Clinton, North Carolina	25.5	38,880	4.6	20.2	8,362
18	Hamlet, North Carolina	25.1	34,798	10.6	8.4	6,043
19	Wadesboro, North Carolina	24.2	32,022	12.9	15.3	5,004
20	Tarboro, North Carolina	24.0	43,523	3.3	26.0	10,696
21	Wilson, North Carolina	23.9	46,891	8.4	22.1	47,767
22	Mocksville, North Carolina	23.7	46,553	5.9	25.7	5,908
23	Salisbury, North Carolina	23.3	48,888	7.0	26.5	35,437
24	Washington, North Carolina	23.0	42,821	5.5	21.2	9,759
25	Northchase, North Carolina	22.5	52,122	18.0	35.4	5,543
26	Eden, North Carolina	22.2	43,607	5.9	14.6	15,349
27	Nashville, North Carolina	21.9	61,513	11.5	24.2	5,624
28	Marion, North Carolina	21.8	48,520	9.5	16.3	7,652
29	Asheboro, North Carolina	21.6	44,405	5.5	18.7	27,117
30	Dunn, North Carolina	21.6	41,843	3.7	18.8	8,549
31	Albemarle, North Carolina	21.6	51,673	6.6	21.1	16,444
32	Sanford, North Carolina	21.5	52,951	5.6	20.8	30,373
33	Spring Lake, North Carolina	21.4	44,447	5.0	27.1	11,710
34	Lexington, North Carolina	21.0	36,868	6.5	14.5	19,595
35	Ayden, North Carolina	20.9	53,000	1.8	19.6	5,002

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