Beaufort County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.6 | 44,481 people · 35th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Beaufort County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.6 — 735th 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 35th of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Beaufort County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 70.1 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 70.1
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 61
Structural Poverty 69.9
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 83
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 91
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 78
Housing Cost Burden 61.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 70
Legal Distress 51.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Economic Vitality 34.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 56

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Beaufort County
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated —
Washington County, NC 78.1 Serious +14.5
Martin County, NC 74.6 Serious +11.0
Pitt County, NC 72.6 Serious +9.0
Hyde County, NC 68.1 Serious +4.5
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated -1.0
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Beaufort County
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated +0.0
Chowan County, NC 63.6 Elevated -0.0
Brunswick County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +0.1
Jasper County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Beaufort 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 Beaufort 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 Beaufort County, North Carolina?

    Beaufort County has a County Distress Index score of 63.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 735th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Beaufort County?

    The primary driver of distress in Beaufort County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 70.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Beaufort County compare to neighboring counties?

    Beaufort County (63.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Washington County, NC (78.1); Martin County, NC (74.6); Pitt County, NC (72.6).

  • 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 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). Beaufort County's score of 63.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Beaufort 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 Beaufort County?

    Beaufort County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 44,481 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.