| | Persons for Whom Poverty Status is Determined, 1990 | Persons Below Poverty Level, 1990 | Poverty Rate, 1990 | Poverty Rate, Percent of U.S. Average, 1990 |
|
| United States | 241,977,859 | 31,742,864 | 13.1% | 100.0% |
| Appalachian Region | 21,134,742 | 3,238,002 | 15.3% | 116.8% |
| North Carolina | 6,397,185 | 829,858 | 13.0% | 98.9% |
| Appalachian North Carolina | 1,270,693 | 158,185 | 12.4% | 94.9% |
|
| County |
| Alexander | 27,154 | 2,671 | 9.8% | 75.0% |
| Alleghany | 9,372 | 1,880 | 20.1% | 152.9% |
| Ashe | 21,941 | 4,040 | 18.4% | 140.4% |
| Avery | 13,899 | 2,024 | 14.6% | 111.0% |
| Buncombe | 169,954 | 19,363 | 11.4% | 86.9% |
| Burke | 73,084 | 7,399 | 10.1% | 77.2% |
| Caldwell | 69,608 | 7,493 | 10.8% | 82.1% |
| Cherokee | 19,935 | 4,071 | 20.4% | 155.7% |
| Clay | 7,127 | 1,279 | 17.9% | 136.8% |
| Davie | 27,507 | 2,300 | 8.4% | 63.7% |
| Forsyth | 257,331 | 27,102 | 10.5% | 80.3% |
| Graham | 7,178 | 1,790 | 24.9% | 190.1% |
| Haywood | 46,040 | 5,855 | 12.7% | 96.9% |
| Henderson | 68,129 | 7,145 | 10.5% | 79.9% |
| Jackson | 23,801 | 3,969 | 16.7% | 127.1% |
| Macon | 23,210 | 3,837 | 16.5% | 126.0% |
| Madison | 16,091 | 3,276 | 20.4% | 155.2% |
| McDowell | 35,202 | 4,025 | 11.4% | 87.2% |
| Mitchell | 14,294 | 2,281 | 16.0% | 121.6% |
| Polk | 14,133 | 1,361 | 9.6% | 73.4% |
| Rutherford | 56,024 | 6,883 | 12.3% | 93.7% |
| Stokes | 36,807 | 3,614 | 9.8% | 74.8% |
| Surry | 60,923 | 6,956 | 11.4% | 87.0% |
| Swain | 10,939 | 3,020 | 27.6% | 210.5% |
| Transylvania | 24,667 | 3,328 | 13.5% | 102.8% |
| Watauga | 32,506 | 6,994 | 21.5% | 164.0% |
| Wilkes | 58,604 | 7,797 | 13.3% | 101.4% |
| Yadkin | 30,003 | 3,591 | 12.0% | 91.2% |
| Yancey | 15,230 | 2,841 | 18.7% | 142.2% |
