Haywood County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 50.0 | 62,969 people · 74th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Haywood County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 50.0 — 1580th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within North Carolina, it ranks 74th of 100 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Haywood County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 73.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 73.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 82
Housing Cost Burden 55.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 34
Homeownership Rate 47
Consumer Credit Distress 47.0
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 50
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 73
Subprime Credit Population 37
Structural Poverty 46.7
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Legal Distress 31.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Haywood County
Haywood County, NC 50.0 Normal —
Cocke County, TN 75.1 Serious +25.1
Swain County, NC 57.3 Elevated +7.3
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated +5.1
Jackson County, NC 53.4 Elevated +3.4
Buncombe County, NC 52.0 Elevated +2.0
Madison County, NC 50.9 Elevated +0.9
Transylvania County, NC 45.5 Normal -4.5
Henderson County, NC 41.2 Normal -8.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Haywood County
Riley County, KS 50.0 Elevated +0.0
Fremont County, CO 50.0 Elevated +0.0
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated +0.0
Sumner County, TN 50.0 Elevated +0.0
Pender County, NC 50.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Haywood County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Haywood County.

Mountain Projects, Inc.
Waynesville
828-452-1447 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-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 Haywood 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 Haywood County, North Carolina?

    Haywood County has a County Distress Index score of 50.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,580th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Haywood County?

    The primary driver of distress in Haywood County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 73.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Haywood County compare to neighboring counties?

    Haywood County (50.0) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Cocke County, TN (75.1); Swain County, NC (57.3); Sevier County, TN (55.0).

  • 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 Normal 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). Haywood County's score of 50.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Haywood 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 Haywood County?

    Haywood County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 62,969 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.