Caldwell County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.6 | 80,574 people · 52nd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Caldwell County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.6 — 1116th 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 52nd of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Caldwell County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 71.8 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 71.8
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 73
Subprime Credit Population 73
Economic Vitality 63.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 69
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 55
Structural Poverty 62.7
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 51
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Housing Cost Burden 34.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 50
Homeownership Rate 52
Legal Distress 20.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Caldwell County
Caldwell County, NC 57.6 Elevated —
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated +3.2
Wilkes County, NC 54.2 Elevated -3.4
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal -8.4
Alexander County, NC 46.7 Normal -10.9
Watauga County, NC 43.6 Normal -13.9
Avery County, NC 42.5 Normal -15.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Caldwell County
Marshall County, AL 57.6 Elevated +0.0
Sutter County, CA 57.6 Elevated +0.0
Lamar County, MS 57.5 Elevated -0.1
Cochise County, AZ 57.6 Elevated +0.1
DeKalb County, AL 57.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Caldwell 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 Caldwell 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 Caldwell County, North Carolina?

    Caldwell County has a County Distress Index score of 57.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,116th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Caldwell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Caldwell County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 71.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Caldwell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Caldwell County (57.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Burke County, NC (60.7); Wilkes County, NC (54.2); Catawba County, NC (49.2).

  • 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). Caldwell County's score of 57.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Caldwell 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 Caldwell County?

    Caldwell County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 80,574 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.