Counties with the highest cancer rates in North Carolina

Written by:
July 12, 2023
Canva

Counties with the highest cancer rates in North Carolina

Several factors contribute to cancer rates, from personal habits and genetics to air pollution or groundwater quality in a given area. People experiencing social, economic, or environmental disadvantages are disproportionately affected by high cancer rates in certain regions—including access or barriers to early screening and care.

Cancer rates also fluctuate by jobs: Higher rates of cancer can be found among meat industry and rubber manufacturing workers, and farmers.

Stacker compiled the counties with the highest cancer rates in North Carolina using data from the CDC. Keep reading to see where in your state cancer cases are the most common.

You may also like: Where refugees in North Carolina are arriving from
1 / 50
Canva

#50. Craven County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 654.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 495.8
2 / 50
Nagel Photography // Shutterstock

#49. Buncombe County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 654.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 468.2
3 / 50
Canva

#48. Randolph County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 656.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 496.5
4 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#47. Lincoln County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 660.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 491.6
5 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#46. Alexander County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 664.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 467.3
You may also like: Best suburbs to live in North Carolina
6 / 50
Canva

#45. Avery County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 669.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 441.2
7 / 50
Canva

#44. Anson County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 671.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 491.1
8 / 50
Canva

#43. Alleghany County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 678.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 360.3
9 / 50
David Byron Keener // Shutterstock

#42. Beaufort County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 679.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 424.4
10 / 50
Canva

#41. Burke County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 679.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 466.2
You may also like: Demand for these health care jobs is increasing most in North Carolina
11 / 50
SevenMaps // Shutterstock

#40. Bertie County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 682.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 445.6
12 / 50
Canva

#39. Cleveland County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 687.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 507.9
13 / 50
Canva

#38. Chowan County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 687.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 413.8
14 / 50
Canva

#37. Granville County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 694.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 525.5
15 / 50
Isaiah N Lilly // Shutterstock

#36. Stanly County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 695.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 516.6
You may also like: How gas prices have changed in North Carolina in the last week
16 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#35. Davie County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 697.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 476.3
17 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#34. Caldwell County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 699.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 485.5
18 / 50
Mary Terriberry // Shutterstock

#33. Stokes County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 701.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 469.3
19 / 50
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock

#32. Rutherford County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 702.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 471.1
20 / 50
Gary Rolband // Shutterstock

#31. Ashe County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 705.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 413.7
You may also like: Best amusement parks in North Carolina
21 / 50
D Guest Smith // Shutterstock

#30. Perquimans County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 706.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 399.2
22 / 50
Scott Alan Ritchie // Shutterstock

#29. Person County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 709.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 494.1
23 / 50
refrina // Shutterstock

#28. Northampton County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 716.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 427.7
24 / 50
tjewell041810 // Shutterstock

#27. Lenoir County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 717.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 511.2
25 / 50
Toribio93 // Shutterstock

#26. Madison County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 718.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 473.7
You may also like: Where people in North Carolina are moving to most
26 / 50
Canva

#25. Halifax County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 719.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 497.5
27 / 50
Canva

#24. Surry County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 722.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 495.7
28 / 50
Canva

#23. Rockingham County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 725.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 489.4
29 / 50
Canva

#22. Swain County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 734.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 534.5
30 / 50
D Guest Smith // Shutterstock

#21. Washington County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 734.6
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 440.3
You may also like: Counties receiving the most SBA loans in North Carolina
31 / 50
Al kearney // Shutterstock

#20. Warren County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 740.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 450.0
32 / 50
P W L Photography // Shutterstock

#19. Tyrrell County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 749.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 530.6
33 / 50
Kirkam // Shutterstock

#18. Caswell County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 749.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 490.2
34 / 50
D Guest Smith // Shutterstock

#17. Martin County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 749.9
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 469.9
35 / 50
KAD Photo // Shutterstock

#16. Chatham County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 751.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 464.3
You may also like: Movies and TV shows casting in North Carolina
36 / 50
MarkVanDykePhotography // Shutterstock

#15. Mitchell County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 752.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 456.9
37 / 50
Canva

#14. McDowell County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 763.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 518.0
38 / 50
KAD Photo // Shutterstock

#13. Moore County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 765.8
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 489.0
39 / 50
Anthony Ricci // Shutterstock

#12. Henderson County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 776.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 464.6
40 / 50
Canva

#11. Carteret County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 779.5
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 463.6
You may also like: Best private high schools in North Carolina
41 / 50
Canva

#10. Polk County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 782.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 413.5
42 / 50
Canva

#9. Jones County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 793.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 502.6
43 / 50
Canva

#8. Transylvania County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 795.0
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 415.5
44 / 50
Canva

#7. Yancey County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 799.1
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 482.2
45 / 50
JNix // Shutterstock

#6. Macon County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 817.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 456.2
You may also like: How many people are receiving substance use treatment in North Carolina
46 / 50
Canva

#5. Haywood County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 827.3
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 506.3
47 / 50
George Dukin // Shutterstock

#4. Clay County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 828.7
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 441.1
48 / 50
James R Poston // Shutterstock

#3. Cherokee County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 848.2
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 455.9
49 / 50
Canva

#2. Pamlico County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 877.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 484.7
50 / 50
iofoto // Shutterstock

#1. Brunswick County

- Cancer rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 896.4
- Age-adjusted rate per 100,000, 2016-2020: 465.6
You may also like: Fastest-growing jobs in North Carolina

Trending Now