Gates County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.3 | 10,343 people · 49th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Gates County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.3 — 1052nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within North Carolina, it ranks 49th 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. Gates County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.8 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Economic Vitality 86.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 11
Consumer Credit Distress 68.2
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 51.3
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 59
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Housing Cost Burden 19.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gates County
Gates County, NC 58.3 Elevated —
Hertford County, NC 82.9 Crisis +24.6
Pasquotank County, NC 70.7 Serious +12.4
Chowan County, NC 63.6 Elevated +5.3
Suffolk city, VA 63.4 Elevated +5.1
Southampton County, VA 57.4 Elevated -0.9
Perquimans County, NC 54.0 Elevated -4.3
Camden County, NC 30.8 Healthy -27.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gates County
Gulf County, FL 58.4 Elevated +0.0
Lumpkin County, GA 58.4 Elevated +0.1
Bates County, MO 58.2 Elevated -0.1
Trigg County, KY 58.4 Elevated +0.1
Coshocton County, OH 58.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gates 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 Gates 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Gates County, North Carolina?

    Gates County has a County Distress Index score of 58.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,052nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gates County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gates County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gates County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gates County (58.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hertford County, NC (82.9); Pasquotank County, NC (70.7); Chowan County, NC (63.6).

  • 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). Gates County's score of 58.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Gates 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 Gates County?

    Gates County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 10,343 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.