| | Persons for Whom Poverty Status is Determined, 2008–2012 | Persons Below Poverty Level, 2008–2012 | Poverty Rate, 2008–2012 | Poverty Rate, Percent of U.S. Average, 2008–2012 |
|
| United States | 301,333,410 | 44,852,527 | 14.9% | 100.0% |
| Appalachian Region | 24,471,864 | 4,060,430 | 16.6% | 111.5% |
| North Carolina | 9,289,467 | 1,563,464 | 16.8% | 113.1% |
| Appalachian North Carolina | 1,651,831 | 295,748 | 17.9% | 120.3% |
|
| County |
| Alexander | 36,356 | 6,647 | 18.3% | 122.8% |
| Alleghany | 10,815 | 2,260 | 20.9% | 140.4% |
| Ashe | 26,749 | 5,162 | 19.3% | 129.6% |
| Avery | 15,506 | 2,759 | 17.8% | 119.5% |
| Buncombe | 232,919 | 39,049 | 16.8% | 112.6% |
| Burke | 87,808 | 16,382 | 18.7% | 125.3% |
| Caldwell | 81,235 | 15,404 | 19.0% | 127.4% |
| Cherokee | 26,925 | 4,061 | 15.1% | 101.3% |
| Clay | 10,451 | 2,359 | 22.6% | 151.6% |
| Davie | 40,785 | 5,282 | 13.0% | 87.0% |
| Forsyth | 341,502 | 60,220 | 17.6% | 118.5% |
| Graham | 8,629 | 1,489 | 17.3% | 115.9% |
| Haywood | 58,055 | 8,227 | 14.2% | 95.2% |
| Henderson | 105,244 | 14,191 | 13.5% | 90.6% |
| Jackson | 36,441 | 7,090 | 19.5% | 130.7% |
| Macon | 33,315 | 6,516 | 19.6% | 131.4% |
| Madison | 19,727 | 3,433 | 17.4% | 116.9% |
| McDowell | 43,879 | 8,347 | 19.0% | 127.8% |
| Mitchell | 15,225 | 2,840 | 18.7% | 125.3% |
| Polk | 20,094 | 3,163 | 15.7% | 105.8% |
| Rutherford | 65,921 | 13,384 | 20.3% | 136.4% |
| Stokes | 46,711 | 8,149 | 17.4% | 117.2% |
| Surry | 72,519 | 13,239 | 18.3% | 122.6% |
| Swain | 13,730 | 3,083 | 22.5% | 150.9% |
| Transylvania | 31,892 | 4,543 | 14.2% | 95.7% |
| Watauga | 45,588 | 13,135 | 28.8% | 193.6% |
| Wilkes | 68,291 | 15,319 | 22.4% | 150.7% |
| Yadkin | 37,904 | 6,686 | 17.6% | 118.5% |
| Yancey | 17,615 | 3,329 | 18.9% | 127.0% |
