| | Persons for Whom Poverty Status is Determined, 2000 | Persons Below Poverty Level, 2000 | Poverty Rate, 2000 | Poverty Rate, Percent of U.S. Average, 2000 |
|
| United States | 273,882,232 | 33,899,812 | 12.4% | 100.0% |
| Appalachian Region | 22,944,990 | 3,120,197 | 13.6% | 109.9% |
| North Carolina | 7,805,328 | 958,667 | 12.3% | 99.2% |
| Appalachian North Carolina | 1,482,507 | 173,822 | 11.7% | 94.7% |
|
| County |
| Alexander | 33,282 | 2,821 | 8.5% | 68.5% |
| Alleghany | 10,517 | 1,804 | 17.2% | 138.6% |
| Ashe | 24,127 | 3,246 | 13.5% | 108.7% |
| Avery | 15,365 | 2,345 | 15.3% | 123.3% |
| Buncombe | 200,435 | 22,920 | 11.4% | 92.4% |
| Burke | 85,538 | 9,132 | 10.7% | 86.3% |
| Caldwell | 76,214 | 8,161 | 10.7% | 86.5% |
| Cherokee | 23,990 | 3,679 | 15.3% | 123.9% |
| Clay | 8,666 | 991 | 11.4% | 92.4% |
| Davie | 34,338 | 2,952 | 8.6% | 69.5% |
| Forsyth | 296,044 | 32,699 | 11.0% | 89.2% |
| Graham | 7,923 | 1,546 | 19.5% | 157.6% |
| Haywood | 53,112 | 6,112 | 11.5% | 93.0% |
| Henderson | 87,695 | 8,526 | 9.7% | 78.5% |
| Jackson | 30,266 | 4,576 | 15.1% | 122.2% |
| Macon | 29,490 | 3,722 | 12.6% | 102.0% |
| Madison | 18,712 | 2,880 | 15.4% | 124.3% |
| McDowell | 40,727 | 4,726 | 11.6% | 93.8% |
| Mitchell | 15,488 | 2,142 | 13.8% | 111.7% |
| Polk | 17,950 | 1,808 | 10.1% | 81.4% |
| Rutherford | 61,178 | 8,513 | 13.9% | 112.4% |
| Stokes | 44,322 | 4,022 | 9.1% | 73.3% |
| Surry | 69,927 | 8,685 | 12.4% | 100.3% |
| Swain | 12,671 | 2,320 | 18.3% | 147.9% |
| Transylvania | 28,561 | 2,708 | 9.5% | 76.6% |
| Watauga | 37,741 | 6,761 | 17.9% | 144.7% |
| Wilkes | 64,648 | 7,662 | 11.9% | 95.8% |
| Yadkin | 35,945 | 3,583 | 10.0% | 80.5% |
| Yancey | 17,635 | 2,780 | 15.8% | 127.4% |
