Lincoln County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.7 | 95,675 people · 83rd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Lincoln County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.7 — 1913th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within North Carolina, it ranks 83rd of 100 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 56.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 56.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 26
Consumer Credit Distress 52.1
Debt in Collections 47
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 45
Economic Vitality 26.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 29
House Price Change (YoY) 78
Structural Poverty 24.7
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 26
Legal Distress 22.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal —
Gaston County, NC 70.7 Serious +26.0
Cleveland County, NC 69.7 Serious +25.0
Burke County, NC 60.7 Elevated +16.0
Mecklenburg County, NC 57.6 Elevated +12.9
Catawba County, NC 49.2 Normal +4.5
Iredell County, NC 45.2 Normal +0.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Cascade County, MT 44.7 Normal -0.0
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal -0.0
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal -0.0
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal -0.1
Adams County, IL 44.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, North Carolina?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 44.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,913th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 83rd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 56.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (44.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Gaston County, NC (70.7); Cleveland County, NC (69.7); Burke County, NC (60.7).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 44.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 95,675 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.