Carteret County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.3 | 69,615 people · 84th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Carteret County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.3 — 1936th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within North Carolina, it ranks 84th of 100 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carteret County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 67.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 67.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 52.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 34
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Consumer Credit Distress 39.4
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 27
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Legal Distress 11.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carteret County
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal —
Jones County, NC 69.1 Serious +24.8
Hyde County, NC 68.1 Serious +23.8
Onslow County, NC 64.2 Elevated +19.8
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated +18.3
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated +6.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carteret County
Whiteside County, IL 44.4 Normal +0.1
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal -0.1
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal -0.1
Franklin County, MO 44.2 Normal -0.1
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carteret 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 Carteret 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 Carteret County, North Carolina?

    Carteret County has a County Distress Index score of 44.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,936th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 84th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carteret County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carteret County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 67.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Carteret County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carteret County (44.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Jones County, NC (69.1); Hyde County, NC (68.1); Onslow County, NC (64.2).

  • 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 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). Carteret County's score of 44.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Carteret 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 Carteret County?

    Carteret County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 69,615 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.