| | 1996-98 | Rate/100,000 | |
| Name | Deaths | Population | Crude | Age Adjusted | |
| ROBESON, NC-COLUMBUS, NC -HSA# 207 | 1,916 | 698,441 | 274.3 | 309.9 |
| LENOIR, NC-WAYNE, NC -HSA# 238 | 1,658 | 694,842 | 238.6 | 262.9 |
| GASTON (GASTONIA), NC-CLEVELAND, NC -HSA# 218 | 3,029 | 1,177,196 | 257.3 | 256.1 |
| PITTSYLVANIA (DANVILLE), VA-CASWELL, NC -HSA# 132 | 1,181 | 392,010 | 301.3 | 251.5 |
| EDGECOMBE, NC-HALIFAX, NC -HSA# 214 | 1,689 | 668,434 | 252.7 | 248.4 |
| PITT, NC-BEAUFORT, NC -HSA# 195 | 1,481 | 653,899 | 226.5 | 248.0 |
| CABARRUS (CONCORD), NC-ROWAN, NC -HSA# 235 | 2,249 | 886,080 | 253.8 | 246.8 |
| SPARTANBURG (SPARTANBURG), SC-UNION, SC -HSA# 191 | 2,480 | 1,022,244 | 242.6 | 235.9 |
| CUMBERLAND (FAYETTEVILLE), NC-SAMPSON, NC -HSA# 262 | 1,530 | 1,008,291 | 151.7 | 233.7 |
| CATAWBA (HICKORY), NC-BURKE, NC -HSA# 229 | 1,871 | 862,020 | 217.0 | 222.9 |
| CRAVEN, NC-CARTERET, NC -HSA# 242 | 1,599 | 933,640 | 171.3 | 222.2 |
| IREDELL (STATESVILLE), NC-ALEXANDER, NC -HSA# 192 | 908 | 420,968 | 215.7 | 221.6 |
| HERTFORD, NC-CHOWAN, NC -HSA# 243 | 501 | 200,274 | 250.2 | 214.7 |
| DURHAM (DURHAM), NC-VANCE, NC -HSA# 170 | 1,964 | 1,005,386 | 195.3 | 213.9 |
| MOORE, NC-RICHMOND, NC -HSA# 205 | 1,205 | 507,798 | 237.3 | 210.2 |
| ALAMANCE (BURLINGTON), NC -HSA# 267 | 815 | 354,101 | 230.2 | 209.4 |
| AVERY, NC-MITCHELL, NC -HSA# 240 | 395 | 140,498 | 281.1 | 209.2 |
| NORFOLK/PORTSMOUTH CITY, VA-VIRGINIA BEACH CITY, VA -HSA# 6 | 4,859 | 3,277,253 | 148.3 | 207.8 |
| WILKES, NC -HSA# 256 | 402 | 186,913 | 215.1 | 204.3 |
| WAKE (RALEIGH), NC-WILSON, NC -HSA# 198 | 3,266 | 2,296,896 | 142.2 | 202.6 |
| PASQUOTANK, NC-CAMDEN, NC -HSA# 264 | 508 | 241,947 | 210.0 | 201.7 |
| NEW HANOVER (WILMINGTON), NC-BRUNSWICK, NC -HSA# 168 | 1,502 | 751,566 | 199.8 | 200.7 |
| GUILFORD (GREENSBORO), NC-ROCKINGHAM, NC -HSA# 186 | 4,271 | 2,192,635 | 194.8 | 200.3 |
| CHEROKEE, NC-CLAY, NC -HSA# 258 | 259 | 91,831 | 282.0 | 199.3 |
| MECKLENBURG (CHARLOTTE), NC-UNION, NC -HSA# 167 | 3,282 | 2,232,739 | 147.0 | 196.9 |
| FORSYTH (WINSTON-SALEM), NC-SURRY, NC -HSA# 149 | 2,824 | 1,381,153 | 204.5 | 192.5 |
| GRAYSON, VA-ALLEGHANY, NC -HSA# 73 | 483 | 181,876 | 265.6 | 190.2 |
| ORANGE (CHAPEL HILL), NC-HARNETT, NC -HSA# 203 | 1,406 | 845,804 | 166.2 | 189.7 |
| MACON, NC-JACKSON, NC -HSA# 209 | 559 | 231,328 | 241.6 | 185.5 |
| BUNCOMBE (ASHEVILLE), NC-HENDERSON, NC -HSA# 225 | 2,788 | 1,109,274 | 251.3 | 184.5 |
| WATAUGA, NC-ASHE, NC -HSA# 194 | 482 | 243,329 | 198.1 | 182.3 |
| MC DOWELL, NC -HSA# 261 | 236 | 118,025 | 200.0 | 181.0 |
