| | County Economic Status, FY 2002 | Three-Year Average Unemployment Rate, 1997-1999 | Per Capita Market Income, 1998 | Poverty Rate, 1990 | Three-Year Avg. Unemp. Rate, Percent of U.S. Avg., 1997-1999 | Per Capita Market Income, Percent of U.S. Average, 1998 | Poverty Rate, Percent of U.S. Average, 1990 |
|
| United States | - | 4.6% | $23,564 | 13.1% | 100.0% | 100.0% | 100.0% |
| Appalachian Region | - | 5.0% | $18,344 | 15.4% | 109.5% | 77.8% | 117.1% |
| North Carolina | - | 3.4% | $21,718 | 13.0% | 74.8% | 92.2% | 98.9% |
| Appalachian North Carolina | - | 3.3% | $20,337 | 12.4% | 72.5% | 86.3% | 94.9% |
|
| County |
| Alexander | Transitional | 2.5% | $18,269 | 9.8% | 53.9% | 77.5% | 75.0% |
| Alleghany | Transitional | 4.1% | $19,117 | 20.1% | 89.1% | 81.1% | 152.9% |
| Ashe | Transitional | 7.8% | $15,749 | 18.4% | 171.7% | 66.8% | 140.4% |
| Avery | Transitional | 3.7% | $17,788 | 14.6% | 80.4% | 75.5% | 111.0% |
| Buncombe | Competitive | 2.5% | $22,011 | 11.4% | 55.4% | 93.4% | 86.9% |
| Burke | Transitional | 3.2% | $17,030 | 10.1% | 69.9% | 72.3% | 77.2% |
| Caldwell | Transitional | 3.0% | $18,587 | 10.8% | 65.4% | 78.9% | 82.1% |
| Cherokee | Transitional | 6.4% | $12,357 | 20.4% | 140.8% | 52.4% | 155.7% |
| Clay | Transitional | 4.5% | $14,204 | 17.9% | 99.3% | 60.3% | 136.8% |
| Davie | Attainment | 2.5% | $24,497 | 8.4% | 55.0% | 104.0% | 63.7% |
| Forsyth | Attainment | 2.5% | $27,823 | 10.5% | 55.8% | 118.1% | 80.3% |
| Graham | Distressed | 9.3% | $11,904 | 24.9% | 204.7% | 50.5% | 190.1% |
| Haywood | Transitional | 4.8% | $16,877 | 12.7% | 105.3% | 71.6% | 96.9% |
| Henderson | Competitive | 2.4% | $21,417 | 10.5% | 52.0% | 90.9% | 79.9% |
| Jackson | Transitional | 4.5% | $16,941 | 16.7% | 98.6% | 71.9% | 127.1% |
| Macon | Transitional | 4.1% | $16,520 | 16.5% | 91.0% | 70.1% | 126.0% |
| Madison | Transitional | 3.1% | $14,428 | 20.4% | 68.9% | 61.2% | 155.2% |
| McDowell | Transitional | 4.3% | $15,892 | 11.4% | 93.5% | 67.4% | 87.2% |
| Mitchell | Transitional | 6.5% | $14,886 | 16.0% | 141.8% | 63.2% | 121.6% |
| Polk | Attainment | 2.5% | $23,751 | 9.6% | 54.0% | 100.8% | 73.4% |
| Rutherford | Transitional | 5.8% | $16,228 | 12.3% | 127.8% | 68.9% | 93.7% |
| Stokes | Transitional | 2.2% | $17,801 | 9.8% | 48.4% | 75.5% | 74.8% |
| Surry | Transitional | 3.6% | $17,954 | 11.4% | 78.1% | 76.2% | 87.0% |
| Swain | Distressed | 13.6% | $11,532 | 27.6% | 298.6% | 48.9% | 210.5% |
| Transylvania | Transitional | 2.1% | $18,849 | 13.5% | 45.4% | 80.0% | 102.8% |
| Watauga | Transitional | 1.8% | $18,090 | 21.5% | 39.3% | 76.8% | 164.0% |
| Wilkes | Transitional | 2.9% | $18,267 | 13.3% | 63.2% | 77.5% | 101.4% |
| Yadkin | Transitional | 2.6% | $18,384 | 12.0% | 57.2% | 78.0% | 91.2% |
| Yancey | Transitional | 5.3% | $13,812 | 18.7% | 116.1% | 58.6% | 142.2% |
