Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate

Northampton County had the highest traffic fatality rate of 100 counties in 2020, at 57.3 per 100,000 people. Washington County had the lowest, at 0 per 100,000 people. The median was 18.3 per 100,000 people and the figure for North Carolina was 14.7 per 100,000 people. Source: NHTSA and BEA.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Median18.3100 counties
North Carolina14.7History

Map of counties, 2020

Alamance County: 17.5 per 100,000 peopleAlexander County: 13.7 per 100,000 peopleAlleghany County: 18.4 per 100,000 peopleAnson County: 36.3 per 100,000 peopleAshe County: 7.5 per 100,000 peopleAvery County: 22.5 per 100,000 peopleBeaufort County: 11.2 per 100,000 peopleBertie County: 16.9 per 100,000 peopleBladen County: 43.9 per 100,000 peopleBrunswick County: 15.9 per 100,000 peopleBuncombe County: 11.9 per 100,000 peopleBurke County: 16 per 100,000 peopleCabarrus County: 9.2 per 100,000 peopleCaldwell County: 9.9 per 100,000 peopleCamden County: 19.2 per 100,000 peopleCarteret County: 14.8 per 100,000 peopleCaswell County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleCatawba County: 16.2 per 100,000 peopleChatham County: 15.7 per 100,000 peopleCherokee County: 17.3 per 100,000 peopleChowan County: 14.6 per 100,000 peopleClay County: 9 per 100,000 peopleCleveland County: 19 per 100,000 peopleColumbus County: 39.6 per 100,000 peopleCraven County: 9.9 per 100,000 peopleCumberland County: 16.6 per 100,000 peopleCurrituck County: 14.1 per 100,000 peopleDare County: 0 per 100,000 peopleDavidson County: 18.3 per 100,000 peopleDavie County: 7 per 100,000 peopleDuplin County: 34.9 per 100,000 peopleDurham County: 10.2 per 100,000 peopleEdgecombe County: 20.5 per 100,000 peopleForsyth County: 11 per 100,000 peopleFranklin County: 23.2 per 100,000 peopleGaston County: 12.2 per 100,000 peopleGates County: 38.3 per 100,000 peopleGraham County: 24.9 per 100,000 peopleGranville County: 28.3 per 100,000 peopleGreene County: 19.6 per 100,000 peopleGuilford County: 11.9 per 100,000 peopleHalifax County: 43.4 per 100,000 peopleHarnett County: 26.2 per 100,000 peopleHaywood County: 12.9 per 100,000 peopleHenderson County: 10.3 per 100,000 peopleHertford County: 45.9 per 100,000 peopleHoke County: 36.4 per 100,000 peopleHyde County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleIredell County: 12.8 per 100,000 peopleJackson County: 16.6 per 100,000 peopleJohnston County: 17.9 per 100,000 peopleJones County: 32.8 per 100,000 peopleLee County: 17.4 per 100,000 peopleLenoir County: 18.2 per 100,000 peopleLincoln County: 10.3 per 100,000 peopleMcDowell County: 11.2 per 100,000 peopleMacon County: 2.7 per 100,000 peopleMadison County: 28.2 per 100,000 peopleMartin County: 27.3 per 100,000 peopleMecklenburg County: 9.7 per 100,000 peopleMitchell County: 26.8 per 100,000 peopleMontgomery County: 54.4 per 100,000 peopleMoore County: 20.9 per 100,000 peopleNash County: 28.4 per 100,000 peopleNew Hanover County: 5.3 per 100,000 peopleNorthampton County: 57.3 per 100,000 peopleOnslow County: 8.8 per 100,000 peopleOrange County: 9 per 100,000 peoplePamlico County: 32.5 per 100,000 peoplePasquotank County: 14.9 per 100,000 peoplePender County: 23.1 per 100,000 peoplePerquimans County: 30.7 per 100,000 peoplePerson County: 20.4 per 100,000 peoplePitt County: 23 per 100,000 peoplePolk County: 25.8 per 100,000 peopleRandolph County: 17.3 per 100,000 peopleRichmond County: 18.7 per 100,000 peopleRobeson County: 47.4 per 100,000 peopleRockingham County: 25.2 per 100,000 peopleRowan County: 19.1 per 100,000 peopleRutherford County: 37.3 per 100,000 peopleSampson County: 20.3 per 100,000 peopleScotland County: 29.9 per 100,000 peopleStanly County: 11.2 per 100,000 peopleStokes County: 4.5 per 100,000 peopleSurry County: 19.6 per 100,000 peopleSwain County: 7.1 per 100,000 peopleTransylvania County: 3 per 100,000 peopleTyrrell County: 30.9 per 100,000 peopleUnion County: 7.1 per 100,000 peopleVance County: 23.5 per 100,000 peopleWake County: 5.7 per 100,000 peopleWarren County: 43 per 100,000 peopleWashington County: 0 per 100,000 peopleWatauga County: 5.5 per 100,000 peopleWayne County: 27.2 per 100,000 peopleWilkes County: 19.7 per 100,000 peopleWilson County: 24 per 100,000 peopleYadkin County: 29.5 per 100,000 peopleYancey County: 10.8 per 100,000 people
  • Under 9.8
  • 9.8 to 14
  • 14 to 18
  • 18 to 23
  • 23 to 30
  • 30 and over
per 100,000 people, 2020. Source: Invokely calculation with data from NHTSA, BEA. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2020

Northampton County: 57.3 per 100,000 peopleNorthampton County57.3Montgomery County: 54.4 per 100,000 peopleMontgomery County54.4Robeson County: 47.4 per 100,000 peopleRobeson County47.4Hertford County: 45.9 per 100,000 peopleHertford County45.9Bladen County: 43.9 per 100,000 peopleBladen County43.9Halifax County: 43.4 per 100,000 peopleHalifax County43.4Warren County: 43 per 100,000 peopleWarren County43Columbus County: 39.6 per 100,000 peopleColumbus County39.6Gates County: 38.3 per 100,000 peopleGates County38.3Rutherford County: 37.3 per 100,000 peopleRutherford County37.3Hoke County: 36.4 per 100,000 peopleHoke County36.4Anson County: 36.3 per 100,000 peopleAnson County36.3Duplin County: 34.9 per 100,000 peopleDuplin County34.9Jones County: 32.8 per 100,000 peopleJones County32.8Pamlico County: 32.5 per 100,000 peoplePamlico County32.5Tyrrell County: 30.9 per 100,000 peopleTyrrell County30.9Perquimans County: 30.7 per 100,000 peoplePerquimans County30.7Scotland County: 29.9 per 100,000 peopleScotland County29.9Yadkin County: 29.5 per 100,000 peopleYadkin County29.5Nash County: 28.4 per 100,000 peopleNash County28.4Granville County: 28.3 per 100,000 peopleGranville County28.3Madison County: 28.2 per 100,000 peopleMadison County28.2Martin County: 27.3 per 100,000 peopleMartin County27.3Wayne County: 27.2 per 100,000 peopleWayne County27.2Mitchell County: 26.8 per 100,000 peopleMitchell County26.8Harnett County: 26.2 per 100,000 peopleHarnett County26.2Polk County: 25.8 per 100,000 peoplePolk County25.8Rockingham County: 25.2 per 100,000 peopleRockingham County25.2Graham County: 24.9 per 100,000 peopleGraham County24.9Wilson County: 24 per 100,000 peopleWilson County24Vance County: 23.5 per 100,000 peopleVance County23.5Franklin County: 23.2 per 100,000 peopleFranklin County23.2Pender County: 23.1 per 100,000 peoplePender County23.1Pitt County: 23 per 100,000 peoplePitt County23Avery County: 22.5 per 100,000 peopleAvery County22.5Caswell County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleCaswell County22.2Hyde County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleHyde County22.2Moore County: 20.9 per 100,000 peopleMoore County20.9Edgecombe County: 20.5 per 100,000 peopleEdgecombe County20.5Person County: 20.4 per 100,000 peoplePerson County20.4Northampton County: 57.3 per 100,000 peopleNorthampton County57.3Montgomery County: 54.4 per 100,000 peopleMontgomery County54.4Robeson County: 47.4 per 100,000 peopleRobeson County47.4Hertford County: 45.9 per 100,000 peopleHertford County45.9Bladen County: 43.9 per 100,000 peopleBladen County43.9Halifax County: 43.4 per 100,000 peopleHalifax County43.4Warren County: 43 per 100,000 peopleWarren County43Columbus County: 39.6 per 100,000 peopleColumbus County39.6Gates County: 38.3 per 100,000 peopleGates County38.3Rutherford County: 37.3 per 100,000 peopleRutherford County37.3Hoke County: 36.4 per 100,000 peopleHoke County36.4Anson County: 36.3 per 100,000 peopleAnson County36.3Duplin County: 34.9 per 100,000 peopleDuplin County34.9Jones County: 32.8 per 100,000 peopleJones County32.8Pamlico County: 32.5 per 100,000 peoplePamlico County32.5Tyrrell County: 30.9 per 100,000 peopleTyrrell County30.9Perquimans County: 30.7 per 100,000 peoplePerquimans County30.7Scotland County: 29.9 per 100,000 peopleScotland County29.9Yadkin County: 29.5 per 100,000 peopleYadkin County29.5Nash County: 28.4 per 100,000 peopleNash County28.4Granville County: 28.3 per 100,000 peopleGranville County28.3Madison County: 28.2 per 100,000 peopleMadison County28.2Martin County: 27.3 per 100,000 peopleMartin County27.3Wayne County: 27.2 per 100,000 peopleWayne County27.2Mitchell County: 26.8 per 100,000 peopleMitchell County26.8Harnett County: 26.2 per 100,000 peopleHarnett County26.2Polk County: 25.8 per 100,000 peoplePolk County25.8Rockingham County: 25.2 per 100,000 peopleRockingham County25.2Graham County: 24.9 per 100,000 peopleGraham County24.9Wilson County: 24 per 100,000 peopleWilson County24Vance County: 23.5 per 100,000 peopleVance County23.5Franklin County: 23.2 per 100,000 peopleFranklin County23.2Pender County: 23.1 per 100,000 peoplePender County23.1Pitt County: 23 per 100,000 peoplePitt County23Avery County: 22.5 per 100,000 peopleAvery County22.5Caswell County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleCaswell County22.2Hyde County: 22.2 per 100,000 peopleHyde County22.2Moore County: 20.9 per 100,000 peopleMoore County20.9Edgecombe County: 20.5 per 100,000 peopleEdgecombe County20.5Person County: 20.4 per 100,000 peoplePerson County20.4
per 100,000 people. Source: Invokely calculation with data from NHTSA, BEA. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2020
per 100,000 people
Change on 2019
1Northampton County57.3+1.5 pts
2Montgomery County54.4+11.8 pts
3Robeson County47.4+9.2 pts
4Hertford County45.9+23.2 pts
5Bladen County43.9-3.1 pts
6Halifax County43.4+14.9 pts
7Warren County43+21.8 pts
8Columbus County39.6+6.6 pts
9Gates County38.3+9.9 pts
10Rutherford County37.3+21.8 pts
11Hoke County36.4+15.1 pts
12Anson County36.3+17.9 pts
13Duplin County34.9-7.5 pts
14Jones County32.8+11.1 pts
15Pamlico County32.5+16.2 pts
16Tyrrell County30.9-29.3 pts
17Perquimans County30.7+23 pts
18Scotland County29.9+0.8 pts
19Yadkin County29.5-2.7 pts
20Nash County28.4-2.3 pts
21Granville County28.3-1.3 pts
22Madison County28.2+18.7 pts
23Martin County27.3-4.1 pts
24Wayne County27.2+11 pts
25Mitchell County26.8+26.8 pts
26Harnett County26.2+8.9 pts
27Polk County25.8+15.4 pts
28Rockingham County25.2+8.7 pts
29Graham County24.9-37.2 pts
30Wilson County24+13.8 pts
31Vance County23.5+9.4 pts
32Franklin County23.2-0.6 pts
33Pender County23.1-10.6 pts
34Pitt County23+13.6 pts
35Avery County22.5+11.2 pts
36Caswell County22.2-17.2 pts
37Hyde County22.2+22.2 pts
38Moore County20.9+7.7 pts
39Edgecombe County20.5-5.8 pts
40Person County20.4+12.7 pts
41Sampson County20.3-8.3 pts
42Wilkes County19.7+0.1 pts
43Surry County19.6-8.4 pts
44Greene County19.6-4.9 pts
45Camden County19.2+19.2 pts
46Rowan County19.1+8.8 pts
47Cleveland County19+0.8 pts
48Richmond County18.7+4.9 pts
49Alleghany County18.4+9.1 pts
50Davidson County18.3+4.7 pts
51Lenoir County18.2-10.7 pts
52Johnston County17.9+5.6 pts
53Alamance County17.5+9.2 pts
54Lee County17.4+3 pts
55Cherokee County17.3-7.3 pts
56Randolph County17.3-5.7 pts
57Bertie County16.9-27.1 pts
58Jackson County16.6-13.7 pts
59Cumberland County16.6-0.1 pts
60Catawba County16.2+3.6 pts
61Burke County16-2.2 pts
62Brunswick County15.9+0.1 pts
63Chatham County15.7-8.3 pts
64Pasquotank County14.9-0 pts
65Carteret County14.8-2.9 pts
66Chowan County14.6-29 pts
67Currituck County14.1-11.6 pts
68Alexander County13.7+8.2 pts
69Haywood County12.9-4.9 pts
70Iredell County12.8-0.3 pts
71Gaston County12.2+4.3 pts
72Guilford County11.9+0.6 pts
73Buncombe County11.9+0.7 pts
74McDowell County11.2-4.5 pts
75Beaufort County11.20 pts
76Stanly County11.2-1.7 pts
77Forsyth County11+2.8 pts
78Yancey County10.8-5.5 pts
79Lincoln County10.3-6 pts
80Henderson County10.3+1.6 pts
81Durham County10.2-0.3 pts
82Caldwell County9.9-4.9 pts
83Craven County9.9-1 pts
84Mecklenburg County9.7+1.4 pts
85Cabarrus County9.2-3 pts
86Orange County9-1.1 pts
87Clay County9-0.2 pts
88Onslow County8.8-2 pts
89Ashe County7.5-18.8 pts
90Union County7.1-2.7 pts
91Swain County7.1-14 pts
92Davie County7-11.9 pts
93Wake County5.7-1 pts
94Watauga County5.5-13 pts
95New Hanover County5.3-11.2 pts
96Stokes County4.5-9 pts
97Transylvania County3-15.2 pts
98Macon County2.7-21.8 pts
99Dare County0-16.4 pts
99Washington County00 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Traffic fatalities (NHTSA FARS) per 100,000 residents in the same year and place.

Deaths are counted where the crash happened and divided by the resident population, so counties with busy highways and few residents can show very high rates. Differs from the WHO road traffic death rate (road_traffic_death_rate).

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

Invokely calculation from NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

Invokely calculated this figure from the publishers' data, so Invokely is the author and the publishers of the inputs are named.

APA 7

Invokely. (n.d.). NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents (Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020) [Data set]. Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k

MLA 9

NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents, Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020. Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

Invokely. n.d. NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020. Dataset. Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k.

Harvard

Invokely (no date) NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents, Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020 [Dataset]. Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA. Available at: https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{invokely_counties_in_north_carolina_2020,
  author = {{Invokely}},
  title = {{NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents: Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020}},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA. Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/traffic-fatality-rate/north-carolina-counties?period=2020. Publisher attribution: Invokely calculation from NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology\#traffic\_fatality\_rate\_per\_100k. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - Invokely
TI  - NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents: Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate, 2020
PB  - Invokely
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/traffic-fatality-rate/north-carolina-counties?period=2020
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Calculated from data by NHTSA and BEA.
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/traffic-fatality-rate/north-carolina-counties?period=2020.
N1  - Publisher attribution: Invokely calculation from NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. https://invokely.ai/docs/methodology#traffic_fatality_rate_per_100k. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in North Carolina by traffic fatality rate using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest traffic fatality rate?

Northampton County, with 57.3 per 100,000 people in 2020, according to NHTSA and BEA.

Which county has the lowest traffic fatality rate?

Washington County, with 0 per 100,000 people in 2020.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: Invokely, NHTSA FARS traffic fatalities divided by BEA mid-year population (SAINC1 and CAINC1), per 100,000 residents. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Traffic fatality rate: other rankings

Counties in North Carolina: more rankings