Cherokee County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.0 | 29,959 people · 77th most distressed in North Carolina
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Cherokee County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.0 — 1708th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within North Carolina, it ranks 77th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cherokee County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 72.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 72.7
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 75
Child Poverty Rate 78
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 99
Consumer Credit Distress 52.2
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 88
Subprime Credit Population 32
Economic Vitality 42.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 37
House Price Change (YoY) 7
Housing Cost Burden 38.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 6
Legal Distress 13.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cherokee County
Cherokee County, NC 48.0 Normal —
Monroe County, TN 64.9 Elevated +16.8
Polk County, TN 61.5 Elevated +13.5
Graham County, NC 60.1 Elevated +12.1
Clay County, NC 52.1 Elevated +4.1
Fannin County, GA 50.9 Elevated +2.8
Macon County, NC 50.5 Elevated +2.5
Union County, GA 40.2 Normal -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cherokee County
Towns County, GA 48.0 Normal -0.0
Greene County, GA 48.1 Normal +0.1
Rio Grande County, CO 48.0 Normal -0.1
Jackson County, WV 48.1 Normal +0.1
Albany County, WY 48.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cherokee 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 Cherokee 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 Cherokee County, North Carolina?

    Cherokee County has a County Distress Index score of 48.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,708th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 77th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cherokee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cherokee County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 72.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Cherokee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cherokee County (48.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Monroe County, TN (64.9); Polk County, TN (61.5); Graham County, NC (60.1).

  • 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). Cherokee County's score of 48.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cherokee 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 Cherokee County?

    Cherokee County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 29,959 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.