Davidson County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.5 | 174,804 people · 60th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Davidson County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.5 — 1372nd 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 60th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Davidson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.7
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 67
Subprime Credit Population 70
Housing Cost Burden 48.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 55
Structural Poverty 46.7
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Legal Distress 33.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Economic Vitality 24.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 48
House Price Change (YoY) 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Davidson County
Davidson County, NC 53.5 Elevated —
Guilford County, NC 63.6 Elevated +10.1
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated +9.1
Rowan County, NC 61.2 Elevated +7.8
Forsyth County, NC 60.1 Elevated +6.6
Montgomery County, NC 51.0 Elevated -2.4
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -3.2
Davie County, NC 40.0 Normal -13.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Davidson County
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated +0.0
Surry County, NC 53.5 Elevated +0.0
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated -0.1
Rockwall County, TX 53.3 Elevated -0.1
Hall County, NE 53.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Davidson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Davidson County.

CCCS OF GREATER GREENSBORO
LEXINGTON
336-373-8882 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement
Home Solutions
Lexington
336-236-1675
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Davidson 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 Davidson County, North Carolina?

    Davidson County has a County Distress Index score of 53.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,372nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 60th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Davidson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Davidson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Davidson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Davidson County (53.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Guilford County, NC (63.6); Randolph County, NC (62.5); Rowan County, NC (61.2).

  • 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). Davidson County's score of 53.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Davidson 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 Davidson County?

    Davidson County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 174,804 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.