Lee County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.8 | 67,059 people · 50th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Lee County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.8 — 1089th 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 50th of 100 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lee County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 65.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 65.0
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 79
Subprime Credit Population 68
Housing Cost Burden 64.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 82
Structural Poverty 52.7
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Economic Vitality 37.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Legal Distress 26.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lee County
Lee County, NC 57.8 Elevated —
Harnett County, NC 61.0 Elevated +3.1
Moore County, NC 38.7 Normal -19.1
Chatham County, NC 31.6 Healthy -26.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lee County
Washington County, TN 57.9 Elevated +0.0
Berkeley County, WV 57.9 Elevated +0.0
Muskegon County, MI 57.9 Elevated +0.1
Anderson County, SC 57.8 Elevated -0.1
Hawkins County, TN 57.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lee County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lee County.

BRICK CAPITAL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Sanford
919-775-2300x3 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHome 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 Lee 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 Lee County, North Carolina?

    Lee County has a County Distress Index score of 57.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,089th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lee County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 65.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lee County (57.8) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Harnett County, NC (61.0); Moore County, NC (38.7); Chatham County, NC (31.6).

  • 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). Lee County's score of 57.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lee 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 Lee County?

    Lee County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 67,059 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.