Cumberland County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.3 | 337,890 people · 14th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Cumberland County, NC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.3 — 215th 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 14th of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cumberland County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.5 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 97
Consumer Credit Distress 80.3
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 40
Auto Loan Delinquency 86
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 63.1
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Economic Vitality 57.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 65
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 15
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Legal Distress 46.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Cumberland County, NC 74.3 Serious —
Robeson County, NC 79.6 Serious +5.3
Bladen County, NC 69.3 Serious -5.0
Hoke County, NC 67.9 Serious -6.4
Sampson County, NC 66.8 Serious -7.5
Harnett County, NC 61.0 Elevated -13.4
Moore County, NC 38.7 Normal -35.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious +0.0
St. Louis city, MO 73.9 Serious -0.4
Escambia County, FL 73.6 Serious -0.7
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious -0.8
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious -1.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cumberland County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cumberland County.

KINGDOM COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Spring Lake
910-484-2722 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
NORTH CAROLINA COMMUNITY HOUSING AND CONSULTING, INC
Fayetteville
910-920-3710 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing

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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, North Carolina?

    Cumberland County has a County Distress Index score of 74.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 215th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cumberland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cumberland County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cumberland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cumberland County (74.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Robeson County, NC (79.6); Bladen County, NC (69.3); Hoke County, NC (67.9).

  • 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 Serious 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). Cumberland County's score of 74.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Cumberland 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 Cumberland County?

    Cumberland County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 337,890 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.