| | Persons for Whom Poverty Status is Determined, 1980 | Persons Below Poverty Level, 1980 | Poverty Rate, 1980 | Poverty Rate, Percent of U.S. Average, 1980 |
|
| United States | 220,845,766 | 27,392,580 | 12.4% | 100.0% |
| Appalachian Region | 20,928,695 | 2,930,068 | 14.0% | 112.9% |
| North Carolina | 5,682,948 | 839,950 | 14.8% | 119.2% |
| Appalachian North Carolina | 1,187,272 | 164,175 | 13.8% | 111.5% |
|
| County |
| Alexander | 24,733 | 2,171 | 8.8% | 70.8% |
| Alleghany | 9,477 | 1,857 | 19.6% | 158.0% |
| Ashe | 22,219 | 5,068 | 22.8% | 183.9% |
| Avery | 13,500 | 2,435 | 18.0% | 145.4% |
| Buncombe | 157,241 | 20,333 | 12.9% | 104.3% |
| Burke | 69,470 | 7,007 | 10.1% | 81.3% |
| Caldwell | 67,231 | 6,965 | 10.4% | 83.5% |
| Cherokee | 18,788 | 4,175 | 22.2% | 179.2% |
| Clay | 6,619 | 1,512 | 22.8% | 184.2% |
| Davie | 24,303 | 2,646 | 10.9% | 87.8% |
| Forsyth | 236,251 | 27,356 | 11.6% | 93.4% |
| Graham | 7,217 | 1,413 | 19.6% | 157.8% |
| Haywood | 45,830 | 7,170 | 15.6% | 126.1% |
| Henderson | 57,937 | 7,140 | 12.3% | 99.4% |
| Jackson | 22,731 | 4,395 | 19.3% | 155.9% |
| Macon | 20,100 | 3,467 | 17.2% | 139.1% |
| Madison | 15,909 | 4,098 | 25.8% | 207.7% |
| McDowell | 34,552 | 4,081 | 11.8% | 95.2% |
| Mitchell | 14,421 | 2,428 | 16.8% | 135.7% |
| Polk | 12,809 | 1,754 | 13.7% | 110.4% |
| Rutherford | 53,158 | 7,269 | 13.7% | 110.2% |
| Stokes | 32,828 | 4,145 | 12.6% | 101.8% |
| Surry | 58,790 | 8,042 | 13.7% | 110.3% |
| Swain | 10,068 | 2,611 | 25.9% | 209.1% |
| Transylvania | 22,680 | 2,927 | 12.9% | 104.0% |
| Watauga | 27,486 | 6,251 | 22.7% | 183.4% |
| Wilkes | 58,148 | 8,013 | 13.8% | 111.1% |
| Yadkin | 28,062 | 4,004 | 14.3% | 115.0% |
| Yancey | 14,714 | 3,442 | 23.4% | 188.6% |
