Chowan County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.6 | 13,891 people · 37th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Chowan County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.6 — 737th 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 37th of 100 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chowan County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 68.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 68.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 72
Economic Vitality 65.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Consumer Credit Distress 64.9
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 70
Structural Poverty 57.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Legal Distress 48.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chowan County
Chowan County, NC 63.6 Elevated —
Hertford County, NC 82.9 Crisis +19.4
Washington County, NC 78.1 Serious +14.5
Bertie County, NC 76.6 Serious +13.1
Gates County, NC 58.3 Elevated -5.3
Perquimans County, NC 54.0 Elevated -9.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chowan County
Jasper County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.0
Allen County, KY 63.5 Elevated -0.0
Lee County, GA 63.5 Elevated -0.0
Hopkins County, TX 63.5 Elevated -0.0
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chowan 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 Chowan 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 Chowan County, North Carolina?

    Chowan County has a County Distress Index score of 63.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 737th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chowan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chowan County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 68.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Chowan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chowan County (63.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hertford County, NC (82.9); Washington County, NC (78.1); Bertie County, NC (76.6).

  • 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). Chowan County's score of 63.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Chowan 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 Chowan County?

    Chowan County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 13,891 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.