Counties with the most veterans in North Carolina

There are roughly 17.5 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 35%.

Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in North Carolina using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2023 5-year estimate.

Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.

Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.

#50. Davidson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (9,869 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 50
--- Korean War: 361
--- Vietnam War: 3,451
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,152
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,018

#49. Edgecombe County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (2,825 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 22
--- Korean War: 106
--- Vietnam War: 947
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 535
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 486

#48. Lincoln County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (5,391 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 250
--- Vietnam War: 1,918
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,266
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,352

#47. Madison County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (1,344 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 51
--- Vietnam War: 533
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 291
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 225

#46. Nash County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.5% (5,564 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 64
--- Korean War: 429
--- Vietnam War: 2,500
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,022
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,087

#45. Rowan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (8,796 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 127
--- Korean War: 406
--- Vietnam War: 3,279
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,024
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,466

#44. Duplin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (2,870 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 28
--- Korean War: 152
--- Vietnam War: 843
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 723
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 513

#43. McDowell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (2,778 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 32
--- Korean War: 188
--- Vietnam War: 1,136
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 339
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 496

#42. Stokes County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (2,802 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 20
--- Korean War: 76
--- Vietnam War: 1,375
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 407
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 453

#41. Graham County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (515 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 39
--- Vietnam War: 190
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 94
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 42

#40. Anson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (1,381 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 87
--- Vietnam War: 603
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 356
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 222

#39. Mitchell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (969 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 99
--- Vietnam War: 464
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 109
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 144

#38. Franklin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (4,467 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 24
--- Korean War: 155
--- Vietnam War: 1,415
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 983
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,408

#37. Rutherford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (4,122 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 61
--- Korean War: 157
--- Vietnam War: 1,688
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 972
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 682

#36. Alleghany County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (760 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 9
--- Vietnam War: 316
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 158
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 216

#35. Henderson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (7,812 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 90
--- Korean War: 552
--- Vietnam War: 3,419
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,293
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,199

#34. Johnston County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (13,968 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 63
--- Korean War: 461
--- Vietnam War: 3,639
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,391
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,200

#33. Hertford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (1,389 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 30
--- Vietnam War: 591
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 371
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 315

#32. Jackson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (3,049 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 36
--- Korean War: 130
--- Vietnam War: 1,131
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 571
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 553

#31. Davie County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (2,960 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 29
--- Korean War: 82
--- Vietnam War: 1,199
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 770
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 492

#30. Lenoir County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.8% (3,716 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 221
--- Vietnam War: 1,521
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 995
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 727

#29. Polk County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.8% (1,462 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 37
--- Korean War: 77
--- Vietnam War: 684
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 185
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 219

#28. Dare County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (2,732 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 37
--- Korean War: 151
--- Vietnam War: 1,042
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 761
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 683

#27. Warren County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (1,366 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 53
--- Korean War: 14
--- Vietnam War: 502
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 338
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 211

#26. Washington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (789 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 55
--- Korean War: 48
--- Vietnam War: 169
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 217
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 243

#25. Clay County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (858 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 22
--- Korean War: 59
--- Vietnam War: 426
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 113
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 163

#24. Beaufort County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.2% (3,291 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 60
--- Korean War: 163
--- Vietnam War: 1,476
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 757
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 547

#23. Bladen County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.3% (2,177 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 61
--- Vietnam War: 877
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 304
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 309

#22. Chowan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.6% (1,070 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 52
--- Vietnam War: 566
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 273
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 170

#21. Haywood County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (4,951 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 107
--- Korean War: 147
--- Vietnam War: 2,308
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 879
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 691

#20. Macon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (2,994 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 47
--- Korean War: 155
--- Vietnam War: 1,396
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 372
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 221

#19. Pender County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (4,715 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 88
--- Korean War: 250
--- Vietnam War: 1,657
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,503
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,348

#18. Perquimans County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.1% (1,186 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 5
--- Korean War: 57
--- Vietnam War: 520
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 343
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 341

#17. Brunswick County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.2% (13,986 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 53
--- Korean War: 620
--- Vietnam War: 6,455
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,537
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,420

#16. Transylvania County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.2% (3,122 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 163
--- Korean War: 214
--- Vietnam War: 1,567
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 545
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 296

#15. Cherokee County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.3% (2,753 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 9
--- Korean War: 144
--- Vietnam War: 1,418
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 441
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 375

#14. Harnett County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.3% (10,898 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 75
--- Korean War: 322
--- Vietnam War: 2,681
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,830
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,822

#13. Gates County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.5% (965 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 32
--- Korean War: 18
--- Vietnam War: 335
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 424
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 110

#12. Pasquotank County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.5% (3,613 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 56
--- Korean War: 119
--- Vietnam War: 1,032
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,410
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,164

#11. Carteret County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12% (6,741 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 439
--- Vietnam War: 2,935
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,054
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,782

#10. Wayne County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12% (10,292 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 101
--- Korean War: 370
--- Vietnam War: 2,718
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,722
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,493

#9. Jones County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.1% (911 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 56
--- Vietnam War: 406
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 221
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 187

#8. Moore County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.3% (9,424 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 155
--- Korean War: 404
--- Vietnam War: 2,505
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,130
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,905

#7. Pamlico County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.3% (1,293 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 167
--- Vietnam War: 476
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 342
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 244

#6. Craven County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.8% (10,912 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 31
--- Korean War: 437
--- Vietnam War: 3,211
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,655
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,414

#5. Camden County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.6% (1,253 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 365
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 585
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 470

#4. Currituck County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 16.2% (3,655 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 40
--- Korean War: 108
--- Vietnam War: 839
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,860
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,560

#3. Hoke County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 17.4% (6,238 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 56
--- Korean War: 96
--- Vietnam War: 1,060
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,876
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,190

#2. Cumberland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 18.1% (39,514 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 147
--- Korean War: 845
--- Vietnam War: 8,229
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 15,568
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 19,311

#1. Onslow County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 21.8% (25,681 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 32
--- Korean War: 392
--- Vietnam War: 4,075
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 9,076
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 16,012