| | 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% |
| Virginia | 5,164,784 | 611,310 | 11.8% | 95.4% |
| Appalachian Virginia | 729,617 | 109,342 | 15.0% | 120.8% |
|
| County |
| Alleghany (+ Covington city) | 28,042 | 3,283 | 11.7% | 94.4% |
| Bath | 5,710 | 726 | 12.7% | 102.5% |
| Bland | 5,911 | 747 | 12.6% | 101.9% |
| Botetourt | 23,018 | 1,765 | 7.7% | 61.8% |
| Buchanan | 37,604 | 7,051 | 18.8% | 151.2% |
| Carroll (+ Galax city) | 33,432 | 5,341 | 16.0% | 128.8% |
| Craig | 3,948 | 403 | 10.2% | 82.3% |
| Dickenson | 19,756 | 3,464 | 17.5% | 141.4% |
| Floyd | 11,391 | 1,757 | 15.4% | 124.4% |
| Giles | 17,733 | 2,225 | 12.5% | 101.2% |
| Grayson | 16,429 | 2,294 | 14.0% | 112.6% |
| Henry (+ Martinsville city) | 74,996 | 7,946 | 10.6% | 85.4% |
| Highland | 2,933 | 442 | 15.1% | 121.5% |
| Lee | 25,791 | 6,683 | 25.9% | 208.9% |
| Montgomery (+ Radford city) | 64,977 | 12,242 | 18.8% | 151.9% |
| Patrick | 17,487 | 2,292 | 13.1% | 105.7% |
| Pulaski | 34,876 | 3,845 | 11.0% | 88.9% |
| Rockbridge (+ Buena Vista city + Lexington city) | 29,483 | 4,159 | 14.1% | 113.7% |
| Russell | 31,600 | 4,684 | 14.8% | 119.5% |
| Scott | 25,018 | 5,545 | 22.2% | 178.7% |
| Smyth | 32,524 | 4,459 | 13.7% | 110.5% |
| Tazewell | 49,913 | 7,130 | 14.3% | 115.2% |
| Washington (+ Bristol city) | 63,791 | 9,820 | 15.4% | 124.1% |
| Wise (+ Norton city) | 48,017 | 7,552 | 15.7% | 126.8% |
| Wythe | 25,237 | 3,487 | 13.8% | 111.4% |
