Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income

Orange County had the highest per capita personal income of 100 counties in 2020, at $70,274. Greene County had the lowest, at $35,155. The median was $43,175 and the figure for North Carolina was $51,824. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest70,274Orange County
Lowest35,155Greene County
Median43,175100 counties
North Carolina51,824History

Map of counties, 2020

Alamance County: 44,239 USDAlexander County: 42,418 USDAlleghany County: 41,661 USDAnson County: 41,958 USDAshe County: 40,844 USDAvery County: 40,341 USDBeaufort County: 49,334 USDBertie County: 41,865 USDBladen County: 43,286 USDBrunswick County: 53,813 USDBuncombe County: 53,068 USDBurke County: 41,112 USDCabarrus County: 49,439 USDCaldwell County: 40,330 USDCamden County: 51,520 USDCarteret County: 56,992 USDCaswell County: 38,571 USDCatawba County: 49,106 USDChatham County: 69,960 USDCherokee County: 36,734 USDChowan County: 45,820 USDClay County: 40,304 USDCleveland County: 41,205 USDColumbus County: 39,864 USDCraven County: 49,496 USDCumberland County: 42,429 USDCurrituck County: 52,426 USDDare County: 63,913 USDDavidson County: 43,889 USDDavie County: 53,094 USDDuplin County: 44,198 USDDurham County: 55,117 USDEdgecombe County: 40,510 USDForsyth County: 51,907 USDFranklin County: 41,565 USDGaston County: 45,120 USDGates County: 44,690 USDGraham County: 39,436 USDGranville County: 43,458 USDGreene County: 35,155 USDGuilford County: 50,134 USDHalifax County: 40,513 USDHarnett County: 39,401 USDHaywood County: 45,028 USDHenderson County: 48,513 USDHertford County: 38,497 USDHoke County: 37,330 USDHyde County: 45,601 USDIredell County: 56,613 USDJackson County: 40,202 USDJohnston County: 45,111 USDJones County: 42,832 USDLee County: 45,279 USDLenoir County: 44,762 USDLincoln County: 51,620 USDMcDowell County: 39,736 USDMacon County: 44,005 USDMadison County: 39,449 USDMartin County: 38,449 USDMecklenburg County: 68,555 USDMitchell County: 40,352 USDMontgomery County: 41,956 USDMoore County: 57,403 USDNash County: 46,695 USDNew Hanover County: 53,673 USDNorthampton County: 41,511 USDOnslow County: 46,809 USDOrange County: 70,274 USDPamlico County: 48,754 USDPasquotank County: 43,196 USDPender County: 44,909 USDPerquimans County: 46,229 USDPerson County: 42,697 USDPitt County: 48,177 USDPolk County: 55,085 USDRandolph County: 41,632 USDRichmond County: 40,492 USDRobeson County: 37,044 USDRockingham County: 41,276 USDRowan County: 42,252 USDRutherford County: 38,461 USDSampson County: 40,924 USDScotland County: 38,873 USDStanly County: 43,153 USDStokes County: 41,705 USDSurry County: 42,899 USDSwain County: 44,811 USDTransylvania County: 47,119 USDTyrrell County: 42,714 USDUnion County: 58,102 USDVance County: 39,761 USDWake County: 65,913 USDWarren County: 35,166 USDWashington County: 41,327 USDWatauga County: 42,940 USDWayne County: 44,034 USDWilkes County: 41,241 USDWilson County: 44,396 USDYadkin County: 41,651 USDYancey County: 39,486 USD
  • Under 40K
  • 40K to 42K
  • 42K to 43K
  • 43K to 45K
  • 45K to 52K
  • 52K and over
USD, 2020. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2020

Orange County: 70,274 USDOrange County70,274Chatham County: 69,960 USDChatham County69,960Mecklenburg County: 68,555 USDMecklenburg County68,555Wake County: 65,913 USDWake County65,913Dare County: 63,913 USDDare County63,913Union County: 58,102 USDUnion County58,102Moore County: 57,403 USDMoore County57,403Carteret County: 56,992 USDCarteret County56,992Iredell County: 56,613 USDIredell County56,613Durham County: 55,117 USDDurham County55,117Polk County: 55,085 USDPolk County55,085Brunswick County: 53,813 USDBrunswick County53,813New Hanover County: 53,673 USDNew Hanover County53,673Davie County: 53,094 USDDavie County53,094Buncombe County: 53,068 USDBuncombe County53,068Currituck County: 52,426 USDCurrituck County52,426Forsyth County: 51,907 USDForsyth County51,907Lincoln County: 51,620 USDLincoln County51,620Camden County: 51,520 USDCamden County51,520Guilford County: 50,134 USDGuilford County50,134Craven County: 49,496 USDCraven County49,496Cabarrus County: 49,439 USDCabarrus County49,439Beaufort County: 49,334 USDBeaufort County49,334Catawba County: 49,106 USDCatawba County49,106Pamlico County: 48,754 USDPamlico County48,754Henderson County: 48,513 USDHenderson County48,513Pitt County: 48,177 USDPitt County48,177Transylvania County: 47,119 USDTransylvania County47,119Onslow County: 46,809 USDOnslow County46,809Nash County: 46,695 USDNash County46,695Perquimans County: 46,229 USDPerquimans County46,229Chowan County: 45,820 USDChowan County45,820Hyde County: 45,601 USDHyde County45,601Lee County: 45,279 USDLee County45,279Gaston County: 45,120 USDGaston County45,120Johnston County: 45,111 USDJohnston County45,111Haywood County: 45,028 USDHaywood County45,028Pender County: 44,909 USDPender County44,909Swain County: 44,811 USDSwain County44,811Lenoir County: 44,762 USDLenoir County44,762Orange County: 70,274 USDOrange County70,274Chatham County: 69,960 USDChatham County69,960Mecklenburg County: 68,555 USDMecklenburg County68,555Wake County: 65,913 USDWake County65,913Dare County: 63,913 USDDare County63,913Union County: 58,102 USDUnion County58,102Moore County: 57,403 USDMoore County57,403Carteret County: 56,992 USDCarteret County56,992Iredell County: 56,613 USDIredell County56,613Durham County: 55,117 USDDurham County55,117Polk County: 55,085 USDPolk County55,085Brunswick County: 53,813 USDBrunswick County53,813New Hanover County: 53,673 USDNew Hanover County53,673Davie County: 53,094 USDDavie County53,094Buncombe County: 53,068 USDBuncombe County53,068Currituck County: 52,426 USDCurrituck County52,426Forsyth County: 51,907 USDForsyth County51,907Lincoln County: 51,620 USDLincoln County51,620Camden County: 51,520 USDCamden County51,520Guilford County: 50,134 USDGuilford County50,134Craven County: 49,496 USDCraven County49,496Cabarrus County: 49,439 USDCabarrus County49,439Beaufort County: 49,334 USDBeaufort County49,334Catawba County: 49,106 USDCatawba County49,106Pamlico County: 48,754 USDPamlico County48,754Henderson County: 48,513 USDHenderson County48,513Pitt County: 48,177 USDPitt County48,177Transylvania County: 47,119 USDTransylvania County47,119Onslow County: 46,809 USDOnslow County46,809Nash County: 46,695 USDNash County46,695Perquimans County: 46,229 USDPerquimans County46,229Chowan County: 45,820 USDChowan County45,820Hyde County: 45,601 USDHyde County45,601Lee County: 45,279 USDLee County45,279Gaston County: 45,120 USDGaston County45,120Johnston County: 45,111 USDJohnston County45,111Haywood County: 45,028 USDHaywood County45,028Pender County: 44,909 USDPender County44,909Swain County: 44,811 USDSwain County44,811Lenoir County: 44,762 USDLenoir County44,762
USD. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020
USD
Change on 2019
1Orange County70,274+6.6%
2Chatham County69,960+6%
3Mecklenburg County68,555+7.6%
4Wake County65,913+6.4%
5Dare County63,913+6.9%
6Union County58,102+4.4%
7Moore County57,403+6.5%
8Carteret County56,992+7.5%
9Iredell County56,613+7%
10Durham County55,117+6%
11Polk County55,085+6.5%
12Brunswick County53,813+8.3%
13New Hanover County53,673+6.8%
14Davie County53,094+5.1%
15Buncombe County53,068+5.2%
16Currituck County52,426+6.3%
17Forsyth County51,907+6.2%
18Lincoln County51,620+7.4%
19Camden County51,520+4.9%
20Guilford County50,134+6.7%
21Craven County49,496+7.3%
22Cabarrus County49,439+7.2%
23Beaufort County49,334+6.8%
24Catawba County49,106+7.1%
25Pamlico County48,754+5.9%
26Henderson County48,513+4.9%
27Pitt County48,177+5.8%
28Transylvania County47,119+4.1%
29Onslow County46,809+6.8%
30Nash County46,695+6.8%
31Perquimans County46,229+7.1%
32Chowan County45,820+8.1%
33Hyde County45,601+8.3%
34Lee County45,279+7.8%
35Gaston County45,120+9.2%
36Johnston County45,111+7.9%
37Haywood County45,028+6%
38Pender County44,909+5.9%
39Swain County44,811+9.3%
40Lenoir County44,762+8.5%
41Gates County44,690+6.4%
42Wilson County44,396+6.8%
43Alamance County44,239+7.4%
44Duplin County44,198+7%
45Wayne County44,034+6.7%
46Macon County44,005+7.1%
47Davidson County43,889+7.6%
48Granville County43,458+8.8%
49Bladen County43,286+10.4%
50Pasquotank County43,196+9%
51Stanly County43,153+7.2%
52Watauga County42,940+6.9%
53Surry County42,899+8.3%
54Jones County42,832+2.4%
55Tyrrell County42,714+10.8%
56Person County42,697+7.8%
57Cumberland County42,429+8.3%
58Alexander County42,418+8.4%
59Rowan County42,252+8%
60Anson County41,958+3.3%
61Montgomery County41,956+9.4%
62Bertie County41,865+7.6%
63Stokes County41,705+5.4%
64Alleghany County41,661+5.4%
65Yadkin County41,651+5.6%
66Randolph County41,632+6.4%
67Franklin County41,565+7.9%
68Northampton County41,511+6.6%
69Washington County41,327+8.5%
70Rockingham County41,276+7.3%
71Wilkes County41,241+6.6%
72Cleveland County41,205+7.7%
73Burke County41,112+9.4%
74Sampson County40,924+8%
75Ashe County40,844+8.9%
76Halifax County40,513+6.9%
77Edgecombe County40,510+9.4%
78Richmond County40,492+10.5%
79Mitchell County40,352+8.1%
80Avery County40,341+11%
81Caldwell County40,330+8.7%
82Clay County40,304+9.4%
83Jackson County40,202+10.8%
84Columbus County39,864+10.3%
85Vance County39,761+9.1%
86McDowell County39,736+9.5%
87Yancey County39,486+7.1%
88Madison County39,449+5.6%
89Graham County39,436+6.9%
90Harnett County39,401+7.8%
91Scotland County38,873+12.6%
92Caswell County38,571+7.1%
93Hertford County38,497+9.6%
94Rutherford County38,461+8.5%
95Martin County38,449+7.4%
96Hoke County37,330+8.3%
97Robeson County37,044+10.1%
98Cherokee County36,734+7.6%
99Warren County35,166+11.4%
100Greene County35,155+8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Personal income of the residents of a place divided by its resident population at mid-year, in current US dollars.

More on how it is measured
  • Personal income is income from work, own businesses, property and government benefits, before income taxes.
  • United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, tables SAINC1 for the nation and states and CAINC1 for counties.

An average, not a median: high incomes pull it up. It includes employer contributions to pensions and health insurance and government benefits, so it is higher than wages or household cash income. For the typical household use median_household_income. Not the same as gdp_per_capita_usd.

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. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

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. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020) [Data set]. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip

MLA 9

CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020. Dataset. Accessed October 11, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020 (Accessed: 11 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_carolina_2020,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-11},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-11.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by per capita personal income, 2020
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/05
PB  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/11
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/per-capita-personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-11.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest per capita personal income?

Orange County, with $70,274 in 2020, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest per capita personal income?

Greene County, with $35,155 in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, per capita personal income, current dollars, individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

Per capita personal income: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings