Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.5 | 7,361 people · 1st most distressed in Alaska
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Northwest Arctic Borough, AK registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.5 — 1246th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Alaska, it ranks 1st of 30 counties. It scores higher than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Northwest Arctic Borough's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 73.6 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 73.6
Debt in Collections 85
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 91
Economic Vitality 72.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Structural Poverty 66.2
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Housing Cost Burden 19.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 7
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 6
Homeownership Rate 93
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Northwest Arctic Borough
Northwest Arctic Borough, AK 55.5 Elevated —
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK 44.5 Normal -11.0
Nome Census Area, AK 40.5 Normal -14.9
North Slope Borough, AK 37.9 Normal -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Northwest Arctic Borough
Hidalgo County, NM 55.5 Elevated +0.0
Kenedy County, TX 55.5 Elevated +0.0
King and Queen County, VA 55.2 Elevated -0.3
Kinney County, TX 55.1 Elevated -0.4
Livingston County, KY 55.8 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Northwest Arctic Borough as a CSV file.

Find Help in Northwest Arctic Borough

Find an Attorney

Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Alaska Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 907-272-7469

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Northwest Arctic Borough residents at no cost.

Alaska Legal Services Corporation (ALSC) 1-888-478-2572

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska?

    Northwest Arctic Borough has a County Distress Index score of 55.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,246th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Alaska out of 30 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Northwest Arctic Borough?

    The primary driver of distress in Northwest Arctic Borough is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 73.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Northwest Arctic Borough compare to neighboring counties?

    Northwest Arctic Borough (55.5) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK (44.5); Nome Census Area, AK (40.5); North Slope Borough, AK (37.9).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Northwest Arctic Borough's score of 55.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Northwest Arctic Borough's CDI score?

    Northwest Arctic Borough's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Northwest Arctic Borough?

    Northwest Arctic Borough, Alaska has a population of approximately 7,361 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.