Counties in North Carolina by personal income

Mecklenburg County had the highest personal income of 100 counties in 2016, at $58.06 billion. Tyrrell County had the lowest, at $125.63 million. The median was $1.85 billion and the figure for North Carolina was $429.17 billion. Source: the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest58,064.7Mecklenburg County
Lowest125.6Tyrrell County
Median1,846100 counties
North Carolina429,166.3History

Map of counties, 2016

Alamance County: 5,927.8 USD millionAlexander County: 1,236.7 USD millionAlleghany County: 376.6 USD millionAnson County: 803.4 USD millionAshe County: 863.7 USD millionAvery County: 562.3 USD millionBeaufort County: 1,850.2 USD millionBertie County: 650.4 USD millionBladen County: 1,094.1 USD millionBrunswick County: 5,216.1 USD millionBuncombe County: 11,189.1 USD millionBurke County: 2,868.2 USD millionCabarrus County: 8,579.8 USD millionCaldwell County: 2,617.4 USD millionCamden County: 450.1 USD millionCarteret County: 3,177.8 USD millionCaswell County: 734.2 USD millionCatawba County: 6,427 USD millionChatham County: 4,061.4 USD millionCherokee County: 827.1 USD millionChowan County: 516.7 USD millionClay County: 335.9 USD millionCleveland County: 3,304.6 USD millionColumbus County: 1,694.3 USD millionCraven County: 4,224.5 USD millionCumberland County: 11,827.2 USD millionCurrituck County: 1,115.5 USD millionDare County: 1,841.8 USD millionDavidson County: 5,938 USD millionDavie County: 1,839 USD millionDuplin County: 1,894.8 USD millionDurham County: 13,936.1 USD millionEdgecombe County: 1,708.3 USD millionForsyth County: 16,523.3 USD millionFranklin County: 2,131.2 USD millionGaston County: 8,149.2 USD millionGates County: 410.9 USD millionGraham County: 251.8 USD millionGranville County: 2,087.1 USD millionGreene County: 605.1 USD millionGuilford County: 22,131.3 USD millionHalifax County: 1,729.8 USD millionHarnett County: 4,179.1 USD millionHaywood County: 2,256.1 USD millionHenderson County: 4,587.8 USD millionHertford County: 712.7 USD millionHoke County: 1,546.3 USD millionHyde County: 187.1 USD millionIredell County: 8,145 USD millionJackson County: 1,302.1 USD millionJohnston County: 7,153.1 USD millionJones County: 360.4 USD millionLee County: 2,245.5 USD millionLenoir County: 2,089.8 USD millionLincoln County: 3,353.9 USD millionMcDowell County: 1,408 USD millionMacon County: 1,253.6 USD millionMadison County: 662.4 USD millionMartin County: 738.2 USD millionMecklenburg County: 58,064.7 USD millionMitchell County: 492.8 USD millionMontgomery County: 882.1 USD millionMoore County: 4,550.5 USD millionNash County: 3,607 USD millionNew Hanover County: 9,499.3 USD millionNorthampton County: 625.6 USD millionOnslow County: 8,411.4 USD millionOrange County: 8,413.9 USD millionPamlico County: 491.7 USD millionPasquotank County: 1,446.7 USD millionPender County: 2,099 USD millionPerquimans County: 510.7 USD millionPerson County: 1,363.4 USD millionPitt County: 6,704.2 USD millionPolk County: 859.4 USD millionRandolph County: 4,902.2 USD millionRichmond County: 1,469.6 USD millionRobeson County: 3,634.1 USD millionRockingham County: 3,111.3 USD millionRowan County: 4,896.4 USD millionRutherford County: 1,995.3 USD millionSampson County: 2,080.8 USD millionScotland County: 1,052.3 USD millionStanly County: 2,183.4 USD millionStokes County: 1,556.1 USD millionSurry County: 2,545.6 USD millionSwain County: 515.1 USD millionTransylvania County: 1,305.3 USD millionTyrrell County: 125.6 USD millionUnion County: 10,973.3 USD millionVance County: 1,428.2 USD millionWake County: 57,023.2 USD millionWarren County: 554.3 USD millionWashington County: 404 USD millionWatauga County: 1,817 USD millionWayne County: 4,349.7 USD millionWilkes County: 2,342.7 USD millionWilson County: 3,004.1 USD millionYadkin County: 1,302.2 USD millionYancey County: 569.7 USD million
  • Under 600
  • 600 to 1,300
  • 1,300 to 1,800
  • 1,800 to 3,100
  • 3,100 to 6,200
  • 6,200 and over
USD million, 2016. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2016

Mecklenburg County: 58,064.7 USD millionMecklenburg County58,064.7Wake County: 57,023.2 USD millionWake County57,023.2Guilford County: 22,131.3 USD millionGuilford County22,131.3Forsyth County: 16,523.3 USD millionForsyth County16,523.3Durham County: 13,936.1 USD millionDurham County13,936.1Cumberland County: 11,827.2 USD millionCumberland County11,827.2Buncombe County: 11,189.1 USD millionBuncombe County11,189.1Union County: 10,973.3 USD millionUnion County10,973.3New Hanover County: 9,499.3 USD millionNew Hanover County9,499.3Cabarrus County: 8,579.8 USD millionCabarrus County8,579.8Orange County: 8,413.9 USD millionOrange County8,413.9Onslow County: 8,411.4 USD millionOnslow County8,411.4Gaston County: 8,149.2 USD millionGaston County8,149.2Iredell County: 8,145 USD millionIredell County8,145Johnston County: 7,153.1 USD millionJohnston County7,153.1Pitt County: 6,704.2 USD millionPitt County6,704.2Catawba County: 6,427 USD millionCatawba County6,427Davidson County: 5,938 USD millionDavidson County5,938Alamance County: 5,927.8 USD millionAlamance County5,927.8Brunswick County: 5,216.1 USD millionBrunswick County5,216.1Randolph County: 4,902.2 USD millionRandolph County4,902.2Rowan County: 4,896.4 USD millionRowan County4,896.4Henderson County: 4,587.8 USD millionHenderson County4,587.8Moore County: 4,550.5 USD millionMoore County4,550.5Wayne County: 4,349.7 USD millionWayne County4,349.7Craven County: 4,224.5 USD millionCraven County4,224.5Harnett County: 4,179.1 USD millionHarnett County4,179.1Chatham County: 4,061.4 USD millionChatham County4,061.4Robeson County: 3,634.1 USD millionRobeson County3,634.1Nash County: 3,607 USD millionNash County3,607Lincoln County: 3,353.9 USD millionLincoln County3,353.9Cleveland County: 3,304.6 USD millionCleveland County3,304.6Carteret County: 3,177.8 USD millionCarteret County3,177.8Rockingham County: 3,111.3 USD millionRockingham County3,111.3Wilson County: 3,004.1 USD millionWilson County3,004.1Burke County: 2,868.2 USD millionBurke County2,868.2Caldwell County: 2,617.4 USD millionCaldwell County2,617.4Surry County: 2,545.6 USD millionSurry County2,545.6Wilkes County: 2,342.7 USD millionWilkes County2,342.7Haywood County: 2,256.1 USD millionHaywood County2,256.1Mecklenburg County: 58,064.7 USD millionMecklenburg County58,064.7Wake County: 57,023.2 USD millionWake County57,023.2Guilford County: 22,131.3 USD millionGuilford County22,131.3Forsyth County: 16,523.3 USD millionForsyth County16,523.3Durham County: 13,936.1 USD millionDurham County13,936.1Cumberland County: 11,827.2 USD millionCumberland County11,827.2Buncombe County: 11,189.1 USD millionBuncombe County11,189.1Union County: 10,973.3 USD millionUnion County10,973.3New Hanover County: 9,499.3 USD millionNew Hanover County9,499.3Cabarrus County: 8,579.8 USD millionCabarrus County8,579.8Orange County: 8,413.9 USD millionOrange County8,413.9Onslow County: 8,411.4 USD millionOnslow County8,411.4Gaston County: 8,149.2 USD millionGaston County8,149.2Iredell County: 8,145 USD millionIredell County8,145Johnston County: 7,153.1 USD millionJohnston County7,153.1Pitt County: 6,704.2 USD millionPitt County6,704.2Catawba County: 6,427 USD millionCatawba County6,427Davidson County: 5,938 USD millionDavidson County5,938Alamance County: 5,927.8 USD millionAlamance County5,927.8Brunswick County: 5,216.1 USD millionBrunswick County5,216.1Randolph County: 4,902.2 USD millionRandolph County4,902.2Rowan County: 4,896.4 USD millionRowan County4,896.4Henderson County: 4,587.8 USD millionHenderson County4,587.8Moore County: 4,550.5 USD millionMoore County4,550.5Wayne County: 4,349.7 USD millionWayne County4,349.7Craven County: 4,224.5 USD millionCraven County4,224.5Harnett County: 4,179.1 USD millionHarnett County4,179.1Chatham County: 4,061.4 USD millionChatham County4,061.4Robeson County: 3,634.1 USD millionRobeson County3,634.1Nash County: 3,607 USD millionNash County3,607Lincoln County: 3,353.9 USD millionLincoln County3,353.9Cleveland County: 3,304.6 USD millionCleveland County3,304.6Carteret County: 3,177.8 USD millionCarteret County3,177.8Rockingham County: 3,111.3 USD millionRockingham County3,111.3Wilson County: 3,004.1 USD millionWilson County3,004.1Burke County: 2,868.2 USD millionBurke County2,868.2Caldwell County: 2,617.4 USD millionCaldwell County2,617.4Surry County: 2,545.6 USD millionSurry County2,545.6Wilkes County: 2,342.7 USD millionWilkes County2,342.7Haywood County: 2,256.1 USD millionHaywood County2,256.1
USD million. Source: BEA, CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2016
USD million
Change on 2015
1Mecklenburg County58,064.7+4.9%
2Wake County57,023.2+4.7%
3Guilford County22,131.3+1%
4Forsyth County16,523.3+2.1%
5Durham County13,936.1+4.5%
6Cumberland County11,827.2+0.2%
7Buncombe County11,189.1+4.5%
8Union County10,973.3+5.4%
9New Hanover County9,499.3+4.6%
10Cabarrus County8,579.8+6.3%
11Orange County8,413.9+4.4%
12Onslow County8,411.4+2.1%
13Gaston County8,149.2+3.1%
14Iredell County8,145+3.6%
15Johnston County7,153.1+6.2%
16Pitt County6,704.2+2.9%
17Catawba County6,427+3.8%
18Davidson County5,938+3.3%
19Alamance County5,927.8+4%
20Brunswick County5,216.1+9.3%
21Randolph County4,902.2+2.2%
22Rowan County4,896.4+2.3%
23Henderson County4,587.8+6%
24Moore County4,550.5+1.9%
25Wayne County4,349.7+0.7%
26Craven County4,224.5+1.1%
27Harnett County4,179.1+2.2%
28Chatham County4,061.4+7.8%
29Robeson County3,634.1+0.8%
30Nash County3,607+1.1%
31Lincoln County3,353.9+3.8%
32Cleveland County3,304.6+0.9%
33Carteret County3,177.8+4.4%
34Rockingham County3,111.3+1.4%
35Wilson County3,004.1+1.6%
36Burke County2,868.2+3.1%
37Caldwell County2,617.4+2.3%
38Surry County2,545.6+1.2%
39Wilkes County2,342.7+0.7%
40Haywood County2,256.1+4.5%
41Lee County2,245.5+2.4%
42Stanly County2,183.4+4.5%
43Franklin County2,131.2+4.5%
44Pender County2,099+5.4%
45Lenoir County2,089.8+0.9%
46Granville County2,087.1+5.1%
47Sampson County2,080.8-2.9%
48Rutherford County1,995.3+1.1%
49Duplin County1,894.8-3.1%
50Beaufort County1,850.2+2.6%
51Dare County1,841.8+6.8%
52Davie County1,839+2.2%
53Watauga County1,817+5.4%
54Halifax County1,729.8+1.5%
55Edgecombe County1,708.3+0.5%
56Columbus County1,694.3+1.9%
57Stokes County1,556.1+2%
58Hoke County1,546.3+1.5%
59Richmond County1,469.60%
60Pasquotank County1,446.7+2.9%
61Vance County1,428.2+1.7%
62McDowell County1,408+2.4%
63Person County1,363.4+1.6%
64Transylvania County1,305.3+8%
65Yadkin County1,302.2-0.1%
66Jackson County1,302.1+4.3%
67Macon County1,253.6+1.8%
68Alexander County1,236.7+0.9%
69Currituck County1,115.5+5.3%
70Bladen County1,094.1-1.6%
71Scotland County1,052.3-0.5%
72Montgomery County882.1-1.2%
73Ashe County863.7+3.5%
74Polk County859.4+2.8%
75Cherokee County827.1+0.5%
76Anson County803.4-2.6%
77Martin County738.2+3.5%
78Caswell County734.2+2.8%
79Hertford County712.7+0.1%
80Madison County662.4+2.8%
81Bertie County650.4-1.5%
82Northampton County625.6+1.3%
83Greene County605.1-0.5%
84Yancey County569.7+2.2%
85Avery County562.3+2.7%
86Warren County554.3+0.2%
87Chowan County516.7+1.1%
88Swain County515.1+3.1%
89Perquimans County510.7+4.9%
90Mitchell County492.8+0.3%
91Pamlico County491.7+1.5%
92Camden County450.1+3.9%
93Gates County410.9+2.4%
94Washington County404+1.4%
95Alleghany County376.6+2.2%
96Jones County360.4-0.6%
97Clay County335.9+1%
98Graham County251.8-1.9%
99Hyde County187.1+1.2%
100Tyrrell County125.6+9.7%

Other periods

About this ranking

Total income received by the residents of a place from work, own businesses, property and government benefits, before income taxes, in millions of current US dollars. United States: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional accounts, table SAINC1 line 1 for the nation and states and CAINC1 line 1 for counties.

Counted where people live, not where they work. The national figure is the total of the states, which differs slightly from personal income in the national accounts. Divided by BEA population it gives per_capita_personal_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. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. 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. Bureau of Economic Analysis. (2026). CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents (Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip

MLA 9

CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016. U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, 5 Feb. 2026, https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. 2026. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.

Harvard

U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (2026) CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents, Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016 [Dataset]. Available at: https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{bureau_counties_in_north_carolina_2016,
  author = {{U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis}},
  title = {{CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016. Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis
TI  - CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents: Counties in North Carolina by personal income, 2016
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/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/personal-income/north-carolina-counties?period=2016.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. CAINC1: county annual personal income summary, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. https://apps.bea.gov/regional/zip/CAINC1.zip. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Questions

Which county has the highest personal income?

Mecklenburg County, with $58.06 billion in 2016, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Which county has the lowest personal income?

Tyrrell County, with $125.63 million in 2016.

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, personal income (published in thousands of dollars, shown in millions), individual counties and county equivalents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Personal income: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings