Catawba County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.2 | 164,645 people · 75th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Catawba County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.2 — 1628th 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 75th of 100 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Catawba County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 65.3 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 65.3
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 40.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Housing Cost Burden 37.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 58
Structural Poverty 35.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Legal Distress 16.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Catawba County
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal —
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated +11.6
Caldwell County, NC 57.6 Elevated +8.4
Alexander County, NC 46.7 Normal -2.5
Iredell County, NC 45.2 Normal -4.0
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal -4.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Catawba County
Cumberland County, TN 49.2 Normal +0.0
Rock County, WI 49.2 Normal +0.1
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal +0.1
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal +0.1
Penobscot County, ME 49.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Catawba County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Catawba County.

WESTERN PIEDMONT COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
Hickory
828-322-9191 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase

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 Catawba 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 Catawba County, North Carolina?

    Catawba County has a County Distress Index score of 49.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,628th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Catawba County?

    The primary driver of distress in Catawba County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 65.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Catawba County compare to neighboring counties?

    Catawba County (49.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Burke County, NC (60.7); Caldwell County, NC (57.6); Alexander County, NC (46.7).

  • 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). Catawba County's score of 49.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Catawba 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 Catawba County?

    Catawba County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 164,645 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.