Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate)

Union County had the highest median household income (US single-year estimate) of 100 counties in 2019, at $86,138. Robeson County had the lowest, at $36,366. The median was $50,387 and the figure for North Carolina was $57,388. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest86,138Union County
Lowest36,366Robeson County
Median50,387100 counties
North Carolina57,388History

Map of counties, 2019

Alamance County: 57,963 USDAlexander County: 54,960 USDAlleghany County: 41,420 USDAnson County: 40,826 USDAshe County: 41,542 USDAvery County: 45,823 USDBeaufort County: 49,410 USDBertie County: 37,899 USDBladen County: 42,260 USDBrunswick County: 63,712 USDBuncombe County: 55,448 USDBurke County: 47,890 USDCabarrus County: 72,071 USDCaldwell County: 48,512 USDCamden County: 69,610 USDCarteret County: 60,058 USDCaswell County: 51,240 USDCatawba County: 53,688 USDChatham County: 70,258 USDCherokee County: 42,764 USDChowan County: 47,126 USDClay County: 47,116 USDCleveland County: 46,012 USDColumbus County: 39,531 USDCraven County: 53,372 USDCumberland County: 46,599 USDCurrituck County: 70,699 USDDare County: 63,033 USDDavidson County: 53,924 USDDavie County: 63,828 USDDuplin County: 44,929 USDDurham County: 65,541 USDEdgecombe County: 40,784 USDForsyth County: 53,054 USDFranklin County: 57,371 USDGaston County: 56,542 USDGates County: 54,204 USDGraham County: 45,813 USDGranville County: 54,300 USDGreene County: 44,648 USDGuilford County: 55,820 USDHalifax County: 38,727 USDHarnett County: 55,619 USDHaywood County: 51,612 USDHenderson County: 61,651 USDHertford County: 42,374 USDHoke County: 48,420 USDHyde County: 43,112 USDIredell County: 68,308 USDJackson County: 47,759 USDJohnston County: 62,835 USDJones County: 46,275 USDLee County: 53,114 USDLenoir County: 39,947 USDLincoln County: 70,479 USDMcDowell County: 46,370 USDMacon County: 46,279 USDMadison County: 50,062 USDMartin County: 39,413 USDMecklenburg County: 69,455 USDMitchell County: 47,675 USDMontgomery County: 46,497 USDMoore County: 63,942 USDNash County: 50,902 USDNew Hanover County: 57,252 USDNorthampton County: 39,777 USDOnslow County: 50,645 USDOrange County: 74,314 USDPamlico County: 52,522 USDPasquotank County: 51,245 USDPender County: 60,405 USDPerquimans County: 50,804 USDPerson County: 54,553 USDPitt County: 52,961 USDPolk County: 53,405 USDRandolph County: 50,129 USDRichmond County: 40,518 USDRobeson County: 36,366 USDRockingham County: 44,686 USDRowan County: 52,051 USDRutherford County: 44,547 USDSampson County: 45,997 USDScotland County: 39,197 USDStanly County: 58,303 USDStokes County: 52,356 USDSurry County: 48,637 USDSwain County: 46,075 USDTransylvania County: 55,628 USDTyrrell County: 37,680 USDUnion County: 86,138 USDVance County: 40,450 USDWake County: 84,377 USDWarren County: 37,027 USDWashington County: 40,157 USDWatauga County: 51,630 USDWayne County: 45,634 USDWilkes County: 45,250 USDWilson County: 42,414 USDYadkin County: 50,929 USDYancey County: 47,664 USD
  • Under 42K
  • 42K to 46K
  • 46K to 50K
  • 50K to 54K
  • 54K to 61K
  • 61K and over
USD, 2019. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2019

Union County: 86,138 USDUnion County86,138Wake County: 84,377 USDWake County84,377Orange County: 74,314 USDOrange County74,314Cabarrus County: 72,071 USDCabarrus County72,071Currituck County: 70,699 USDCurrituck County70,699Lincoln County: 70,479 USDLincoln County70,479Chatham County: 70,258 USDChatham County70,258Camden County: 69,610 USDCamden County69,610Mecklenburg County: 69,455 USDMecklenburg County69,455Iredell County: 68,308 USDIredell County68,308Durham County: 65,541 USDDurham County65,541Moore County: 63,942 USDMoore County63,942Davie County: 63,828 USDDavie County63,828Brunswick County: 63,712 USDBrunswick County63,712Dare County: 63,033 USDDare County63,033Johnston County: 62,835 USDJohnston County62,835Henderson County: 61,651 USDHenderson County61,651Pender County: 60,405 USDPender County60,405Carteret County: 60,058 USDCarteret County60,058Stanly County: 58,303 USDStanly County58,303Alamance County: 57,963 USDAlamance County57,963Franklin County: 57,371 USDFranklin County57,371New Hanover County: 57,252 USDNew Hanover County57,252Gaston County: 56,542 USDGaston County56,542Guilford County: 55,820 USDGuilford County55,820Transylvania County: 55,628 USDTransylvania County55,628Harnett County: 55,619 USDHarnett County55,619Buncombe County: 55,448 USDBuncombe County55,448Alexander County: 54,960 USDAlexander County54,960Person County: 54,553 USDPerson County54,553Granville County: 54,300 USDGranville County54,300Gates County: 54,204 USDGates County54,204Davidson County: 53,924 USDDavidson County53,924Catawba County: 53,688 USDCatawba County53,688Polk County: 53,405 USDPolk County53,405Craven County: 53,372 USDCraven County53,372Lee County: 53,114 USDLee County53,114Forsyth County: 53,054 USDForsyth County53,054Pitt County: 52,961 USDPitt County52,961Pamlico County: 52,522 USDPamlico County52,522Union County: 86,138 USDUnion County86,138Wake County: 84,377 USDWake County84,377Orange County: 74,314 USDOrange County74,314Cabarrus County: 72,071 USDCabarrus County72,071Currituck County: 70,699 USDCurrituck County70,699Lincoln County: 70,479 USDLincoln County70,479Chatham County: 70,258 USDChatham County70,258Camden County: 69,610 USDCamden County69,610Mecklenburg County: 69,455 USDMecklenburg County69,455Iredell County: 68,308 USDIredell County68,308Durham County: 65,541 USDDurham County65,541Moore County: 63,942 USDMoore County63,942Davie County: 63,828 USDDavie County63,828Brunswick County: 63,712 USDBrunswick County63,712Dare County: 63,033 USDDare County63,033Johnston County: 62,835 USDJohnston County62,835Henderson County: 61,651 USDHenderson County61,651Pender County: 60,405 USDPender County60,405Carteret County: 60,058 USDCarteret County60,058Stanly County: 58,303 USDStanly County58,303Alamance County: 57,963 USDAlamance County57,963Franklin County: 57,371 USDFranklin County57,371New Hanover County: 57,252 USDNew Hanover County57,252Gaston County: 56,542 USDGaston County56,542Guilford County: 55,820 USDGuilford County55,820Transylvania County: 55,628 USDTransylvania County55,628Harnett County: 55,619 USDHarnett County55,619Buncombe County: 55,448 USDBuncombe County55,448Alexander County: 54,960 USDAlexander County54,960Person County: 54,553 USDPerson County54,553Granville County: 54,300 USDGranville County54,300Gates County: 54,204 USDGates County54,204Davidson County: 53,924 USDDavidson County53,924Catawba County: 53,688 USDCatawba County53,688Polk County: 53,405 USDPolk County53,405Craven County: 53,372 USDCraven County53,372Lee County: 53,114 USDLee County53,114Forsyth County: 53,054 USDForsyth County53,054Pitt County: 52,961 USDPitt County52,961Pamlico County: 52,522 USDPamlico County52,522
USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2019
USD
Change on 2018
1Union County86,138+7.1%
2Wake County84,377+5.2%
3Orange County74,314+3.3%
4Cabarrus County72,071+4%
5Currituck County70,699+9.7%
6Lincoln County70,479+11.9%
7Chatham County70,258-4.7%
8Camden County69,610+5.5%
9Mecklenburg County69,455+7.7%
10Iredell County68,308+13.8%
11Durham County65,541+10.5%
12Moore County63,942+7.5%
13Davie County63,828+5%
14Brunswick County63,712+5.9%
15Dare County63,033-2.7%
16Johnston County62,835+4.2%
17Henderson County61,651+14.1%
18Pender County60,405+10%
19Carteret County60,058+9.1%
20Stanly County58,303+13.2%
21Alamance County57,963+14.8%
22Franklin County57,371-0.6%
23New Hanover County57,252+7.2%
24Gaston County56,542+7.1%
25Guilford County55,820+7%
26Transylvania County55,628+8.2%
27Harnett County55,619+8.6%
28Buncombe County55,448+2.8%
29Alexander County54,960+11.8%
30Person County54,553+8.8%
31Granville County54,300-7.9%
32Gates County54,204+4.8%
33Davidson County53,924+12.9%
34Catawba County53,688-0.1%
35Polk County53,405+5.8%
36Craven County53,372+5.2%
37Lee County53,114+8.4%
38Forsyth County53,054+5.9%
39Pitt County52,961+22.3%
40Pamlico County52,522+13.1%
41Stokes County52,356+3%
42Rowan County52,051+11.1%
43Watauga County51,630+6.5%
44Haywood County51,612+9.4%
45Pasquotank County51,245+10.5%
46Caswell County51,240+12.6%
47Yadkin County50,929+3.8%
48Nash County50,902+1.6%
49Perquimans County50,804+5.1%
50Onslow County50,645+0.2%
51Randolph County50,129+3.6%
52Madison County50,062+12%
53Beaufort County49,410+6.5%
54Surry County48,637+5%
55Caldwell County48,512+12%
56Hoke County48,420+1.1%
57Burke County47,890+6.6%
58Jackson County47,759+7.3%
59Mitchell County47,675+8.4%
60Yancey County47,664+6.5%
61Chowan County47,126+10.6%
62Clay County47,116+9.9%
63Cumberland County46,599-0.4%
64Montgomery County46,497-2.6%
65McDowell County46,370+5.5%
66Macon County46,279-0.3%
67Jones County46,275+6.9%
68Swain County46,075+6.9%
69Cleveland County46,012+7.7%
70Sampson County45,997+7.5%
71Avery County45,823+9.9%
72Graham County45,813+16%
73Wayne County45,634+9.8%
74Wilkes County45,250+2.7%
75Duplin County44,929+5.2%
76Rockingham County44,686+6.7%
77Greene County44,648+2.4%
78Rutherford County44,547+4%
79Hyde County43,112+6%
80Cherokee County42,764+3.6%
81Wilson County42,414-3.6%
82Hertford County42,374+10.9%
83Bladen County42,260+14.3%
84Ashe County41,542-0.8%
85Alleghany County41,420+4.2%
86Anson County40,826+7.4%
87Edgecombe County40,784+5.1%
88Richmond County40,518+5.2%
89Vance County40,450+0.5%
90Washington County40,157+11.4%
91Lenoir County39,947-1.2%
92Northampton County39,777+6.8%
93Columbus County39,531+7.2%
94Martin County39,413-9.5%
95Scotland County39,197+6.7%
96Halifax County38,727+5.4%
97Bertie County37,899+7%
98Tyrrell County37,680+2.5%
99Warren County37,027-3.7%
100Robeson County36,366+2.7%

Other periods

About this ranking

Household income at the middle of the distribution for one year, in US dollars of that year. United States: Census Bureau Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) for the nation, states and counties.

A model-based estimate that combines the one-year American Community Survey with federal tax records and other administrative data, so every county gets a figure for a single year. The national figure is the one-year ACS estimate. Not adjusted for inflation between years. The Census Bureau advises comparing years from 2006 on only. For the five-year ACS median, which also covers cities, use median_household_income.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties (Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt

MLA 9

Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019. U.S. Census Bureau, 27 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties, Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_2019,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties: Counties in North Carolina by median household income (US single-year estimate), 2019
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/27
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/median-household-income-single-year-us/north-carolina-counties?period=2019.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/saipe/datasets/2019/2019-state-and-county/est19all.txt. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest median household income (US single-year estimate)?

Union County, with $86,138 in 2019, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest median household income (US single-year estimate)?

Robeson County, with $36,366 in 2019.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE): median household income, nation, states and counties. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Median household income (US single-year estimate): other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings