Iredell County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.2 | 199,710 people · 82nd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Iredell County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.2 — 1885th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within North Carolina, it ranks 82nd of 100 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Iredell County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 54.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 54.0
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 58
Housing Cost Burden 51.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 63
Homeownership Rate 64
Economic Vitality 38.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 52
Legal Distress 35.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Structural Poverty 14.7
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 14
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Iredell County
Iredell County, NC 45.2 Normal —
Rowan County, NC 61.2 Elevated +16.0
Mecklenburg County, NC 57.6 Elevated +12.4
Wilkes County, NC 54.2 Elevated +9.0
Cabarrus County, NC 53.1 Elevated +7.9
Yadkin County, NC 51.2 Elevated +6.0
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal +4.0
Alexander County, NC 46.7 Normal +1.5
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal -0.5
Davie County, NC 40.0 Normal -5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Iredell County
Worcester County, MD 45.1 Normal -0.1
Martin County, FL 45.3 Normal +0.1
Grundy County, IL 45.1 Normal -0.1
Crawford County, PA 45.1 Normal -0.1
Aroostook County, ME 45.0 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Iredell County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Iredell County.

COMMUNITY FOUNDATIONS
Mooresville
704-799-7641 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing
THE SAFEGUARD GROUP - HOUSING & DEBT ADVISORS
Mooresville
800-673-6993-146 Website
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 Iredell 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 Iredell County, North Carolina?

    Iredell County has a County Distress Index score of 45.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,885th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 82nd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Iredell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Iredell County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 54.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Iredell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Iredell County (45.2) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Rowan County, NC (61.2); Mecklenburg County, NC (57.6); Wilkes County, NC (54.2).

  • 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 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). Iredell County's score of 45.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Iredell 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 Iredell County?

    Iredell County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 199,710 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.