Edgecombe County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Crisis · 82.6 | 48,832 people · 2nd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Edgecombe County, NC ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 82.6 — 36th 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 2nd of 100 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Edgecombe County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 91.0 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 91.0
Debt in Collections 97
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 97
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 99
Structural Poverty 86.7
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 99
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 92
Legal Distress 73.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Economic Vitality 70.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 96
Housing Cost Burden 70.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 94

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County, NC 82.6 Crisis —
Halifax County, NC 81.7 Crisis -0.9
Wilson County, NC 75.8 Serious -6.8
Martin County, NC 74.6 Serious -8.0
Pitt County, NC 72.6 Serious -10.0
Nash County, NC 67.7 Serious -14.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Edgecombe County
Charlton County, GA 82.5 Crisis -0.1
Holmes County, MS 82.7 Crisis +0.1
Hertford County, NC 82.9 Crisis +0.3
Vance County, NC 82.3 Crisis -0.4
Crisp County, GA 83.1 Crisis +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Edgecombe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Edgecombe County.

HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE CITY OF ROCKY MOUNT, NC
Rocky Mount
252-977-3141 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

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 Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe County, North Carolina?

    Edgecombe County has a County Distress Index score of 82.6 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 36th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Edgecombe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Edgecombe County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 91.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Edgecombe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Edgecombe County (82.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Halifax County, NC (81.7); Wilson County, NC (75.8); Martin County, NC (74.6).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Edgecombe County's score of 82.6 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Edgecombe 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 Edgecombe County?

    Edgecombe County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 48,832 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.