Craven County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.6 | 102,391 people · 38th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Craven County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.6 — 798th 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 38th of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Craven County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 69.3 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 69.3
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 64
Housing Cost Burden 62.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 34
Homeownership Rate 71
Economic Vitality 57.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Structural Poverty 56.4
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 80
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 37.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Craven County
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated —
Pitt County, NC 72.6 Serious +10.0
Lenoir County, NC 71.4 Serious +8.9
Jones County, NC 69.1 Serious +6.5
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated +1.0
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated -12.0
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal -18.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Craven County
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated -0.0
Walker County, AL 62.6 Elevated +0.1
Muskingum County, OH 62.7 Elevated +0.2
Hall County, GA 62.8 Elevated +0.2
Cherokee County, TX 62.8 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Craven 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 Craven 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 Craven County, North Carolina?

    Craven County has a County Distress Index score of 62.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 798th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Craven County?

    The primary driver of distress in Craven County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 69.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Craven County compare to neighboring counties?

    Craven County (62.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pitt County, NC (72.6); Lenoir County, NC (71.4); Jones County, NC (69.1).

  • 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 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). Craven County's score of 62.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Craven 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 Craven County?

    Craven County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 102,391 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.