Burke County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.7 | 88,338 people · 44th most distressed in North Carolina
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Burke County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.7 — 902nd 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 44th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Burke County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 72.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 72.0
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 67
Structural Poverty 67.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Economic Vitality 67.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Housing Cost Burden 41.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 50
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 48
Legal Distress 27.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Burke County
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated —
Cleveland County, NC 69.7 Serious +8.9
Rutherford County, NC 64.2 Elevated +3.4
Caldwell County, NC 57.6 Elevated -3.2
McDowell County, NC 53.2 Elevated -7.5
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal -11.6
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal -16.0
Avery County, NC 42.5 Normal -18.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Burke County
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +0.0
Monroe County, FL 60.8 Elevated +0.1
Waller County, TX 60.8 Elevated +0.1
Rockingham County, NC 60.6 Elevated -0.1
Putnam County, TN 60.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Burke County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Burke County.

OLIVE HILL COMMUNITY ECOMONIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Morganton
828-475-4620x305 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Burke 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 Burke County, North Carolina?

    Burke County has a County Distress Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 902nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Burke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Burke County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 72.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Burke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Burke County (60.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Cleveland County, NC (69.7); Rutherford County, NC (64.2); 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 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). Burke County's score of 60.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Burke 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 Burke County?

    Burke County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 88,338 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.