Avery County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.5 | 17,561 people · 87th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Avery County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.5 — 2036th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within North Carolina, it ranks 87th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Avery County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 61.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 61.0
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Economic Vitality 58.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Consumer Credit Distress 44.6
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 22
Housing Cost Burden 32.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 19
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Avery County
Avery County, NC 42.5 Normal —
Carter County, TN 66.2 Serious +23.6
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated +18.2
Caldwell County, NC 57.6 Elevated +15.0
Johnson County, TN 56.8 Elevated +14.3
McDowell County, NC 53.2 Elevated +10.7
Watauga County, NC 43.6 Normal +1.1
Mitchell County, NC 39.7 Normal -2.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Avery County
Rusk County, WI 42.5 Normal 0.0
Sanilac County, MI 42.5 Normal -0.1
Tillamook County, OR 42.5 Normal -0.1
Carroll County, OH 42.5 Normal -0.1
King George County, VA 42.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Avery County

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 Avery 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Avery County has a County Distress Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,036th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 87th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Avery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Avery County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 61.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Avery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Avery County (42.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Carter County, TN (66.2); Burke County, NC (60.7); Caldwell County, NC (57.6).

  • 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 Normal 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). Avery County's score of 42.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Avery 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 Avery County?

    Avery County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 17,561 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.