There are roughly 17.1 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 29%.
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' 2024 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Montana are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,144 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#50. Rowan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (8,425 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 55
--- Korean War: 348
--- Vietnam War: 2,958
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,199
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,719
#49. Swain County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.2% (798 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 44
--- Vietnam War: 156
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 182
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 203
#48. Alexander County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (2,137 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 41
--- Korean War: 36
--- Vietnam War: 892
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 353
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 377
#47. Cleveland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (5,720 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 265
--- Vietnam War: 1,971
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,371
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,145
#46. Northampton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (1,017 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 18
--- Vietnam War: 544
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 233
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 162
#45. Stokes County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.3% (2,674 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 20
--- Korean War: 79
--- Vietnam War: 1,094
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 372
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 536
#44. Johnston County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (13,032 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 47
--- Korean War: 404
--- Vietnam War: 3,494
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,831
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,276
#43. Rutherford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.4% (3,853 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 176
--- Vietnam War: 1,549
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 784
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 701
#42. McDowell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.6% (2,760 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 105
--- Vietnam War: 1,119
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 395
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 517
#41. Edgecombe County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (2,878 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 80
--- Vietnam War: 987
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 448
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 546
#40. Mitchell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (946 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 10
--- Korean War: 82
--- Vietnam War: 402
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 104
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 162
#39. Nash County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (5,784 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 26
--- Korean War: 300
--- Vietnam War: 2,311
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,535
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,086
#38. Davie County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (2,798 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 32
--- Korean War: 180
--- Vietnam War: 1,058
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 681
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 504
#37. Jackson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (2,916 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 21
--- Korean War: 116
--- Vietnam War: 1,091
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 661
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 645
#36. Alleghany County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (760 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 298
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 156
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 211
#35. Bladen County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (1,902 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 12
--- Vietnam War: 711
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 368
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 359
#34. Dare County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (2,498 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 34
--- Korean War: 140
--- Vietnam War: 921
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 616
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 626
#33. Franklin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (4,678 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 13
--- Korean War: 116
--- Vietnam War: 1,462
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,190
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,518
#32. Henderson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (7,811 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 49
--- Korean War: 420
--- Vietnam War: 3,389
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,501
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,410
#31. Hertford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (1,332 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 19
--- Vietnam War: 521
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 329
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 331
#30. Lenoir County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (3,539 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 4
--- Korean War: 176
--- Vietnam War: 1,534
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 832
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 648
#29. Avery County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (1,271 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 18
--- Vietnam War: 536
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 447
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 233
#28. Duplin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (3,141 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 18
--- Korean War: 152
--- Vietnam War: 854
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 873
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 633
#27. Polk County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (1,451 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 36
--- Korean War: 51
--- Vietnam War: 788
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 195
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 162
#26. Tyrrell County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (248 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 55
--- Vietnam War: 51
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 63
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 13
#25. Washington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (761 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 50
--- Vietnam War: 190
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 299
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 272
#24. Beaufort County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.3% (3,361 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 28
--- Korean War: 94
--- Vietnam War: 1,399
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 680
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 567
#23. Macon County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (2,916 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 76
--- Vietnam War: 1,282
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 505
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 242
#22. Pender County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (4,726 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 86
--- Korean War: 187
--- Vietnam War: 1,585
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,388
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,525
#21. Warren County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.6% (1,482 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 84
--- Korean War: 0
--- Vietnam War: 517
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 404
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 358
#20. Haywood County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (4,981 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 91
--- Korean War: 140
--- Vietnam War: 2,208
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,006
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 889
#19. Transylvania County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.8% (2,785 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 98
--- Korean War: 193
--- Vietnam War: 1,441
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 559
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 265
#18. Cherokee County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.2% (2,522 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 84
--- Vietnam War: 1,189
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 482
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 446
#17. Chowan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.5% (1,177 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 24
--- Vietnam War: 583
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 372
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 156
#16. Brunswick County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (14,158 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 40
--- Korean War: 473
--- Vietnam War: 6,460
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,740
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,475
#15. Gates County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.8% (900 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 30
--- Vietnam War: 292
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 412
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 118
#14. Pasquotank County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.9% (3,445 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 9
--- Korean War: 95
--- Vietnam War: 964
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,398
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,044
#13. Wayne County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.5% (9,996 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 84
--- Korean War: 333
--- Vietnam War: 2,607
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,455
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,503
#12. Pamlico County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.7% (1,246 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 117
--- Vietnam War: 413
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 410
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 205
#11. Harnett County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.8% (11,660 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 66
--- Korean War: 303
--- Vietnam War: 2,312
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 4,254
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 5,605
#10. Carteret County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12% (6,799 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 378
--- Vietnam War: 2,610
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 2,125
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 2,078
#9. Perquimans County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.1% (1,301 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 60
--- Vietnam War: 531
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 441
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 331
#8. Jones County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 12.2% (919 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 29
--- Vietnam War: 421
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 289
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 217
#7. Moore County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 13.1% (10,291 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 125
--- Korean War: 368
--- Vietnam War: 2,641
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,697
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,497
#6. Craven County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.5% (10,968 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 362
--- Vietnam War: 2,897
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,873
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,862
#5. Camden County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 14.9% (1,233 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 239
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 611
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 577
#4. Currituck County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 15.3% (3,574 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 57
--- Korean War: 73
--- Vietnam War: 802
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,831
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,472
#3. Cumberland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 18.3% (40,226 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 107
--- Korean War: 749
--- Vietnam War: 7,585
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 15,458
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 20,617
#2. Hoke County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 19% (6,926 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 27
--- Korean War: 30
--- Vietnam War: 1,008
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,031
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 3,718
#1. Onslow County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 21.4% (25,185 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 9
--- Korean War: 259
--- Vietnam War: 3,809
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 8,644
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 15,442