Anson County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 77.5 | 21,897 people · 8th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Anson County, NC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 77.5 — 116th 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 North Carolina, it ranks 8th of 100 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Anson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 94.8 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 94.8
Debt in Collections 99
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 99
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 96
Structural Poverty 83.7
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 94
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 94
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 79
Economic Vitality 72.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 89
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 96
Housing Cost Burden 53.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 83
Legal Distress 34.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Anson County
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious —
Richmond County, NC 74.8 Serious -2.6
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious -3.3
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious -6.9
Montgomery County, NC 51.0 Elevated -26.4
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -27.2
Union County, NC 39.1 Normal -38.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Anson County
Natchitoches Parish, LA 77.5 Serious +0.1
Barnwell County, SC 77.4 Serious -0.1
Ben Hill County, GA 77.3 Serious -0.1
Pike County, MS 77.3 Serious -0.2
Butts County, GA 77.7 Serious +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Anson County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Anson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Anson County.

SANDHILLS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Wadesboro
704-994-2306-210 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseRental Help

See all counselors in North Carolina →

Find an Attorney

North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

North Carolina State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-662-7407

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Anson County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of North Carolina 1-866-219-5262
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy 704-376-1600
NC Equal Access to Justice Commission
Duke Law School Community Enterprise Clinic

Self-Help Resources

NC Courts Self-Help Resources — Foreclosure Official NC court system resources for foreclosure proceedings and borrower rights
NCHFA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and HAF information

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in North Carolina →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Anson County, North Carolina?

    Anson County has a County Distress Index score of 77.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 116th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Anson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Anson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 94.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Anson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Anson County (77.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Richmond County, NC (74.8); Marlboro County, SC (74.1); Chesterfield County, SC (70.6).

  • 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 Serious 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). Anson County's score of 77.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Anson County's CDI score?

    Anson County'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 Anson County?

    Anson County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 21,897 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.