Macon County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.5 | 38,412 people · 71st most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Macon County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.5 — 1545th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within North Carolina, it ranks 71st 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. Macon County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 69.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 69.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 40
Structural Poverty 56.8
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 76
Consumer Credit Distress 47.9
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 30
Economic Vitality 46.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Legal Distress 4.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Macon County, NC 50.5 Elevated —
Graham County, NC 60.1 Elevated +9.6
Swain County, NC 57.3 Elevated +6.8
Jackson County, NC 53.4 Elevated +2.9
Clay County, NC 52.1 Elevated +1.6
Rabun County, GA 49.1 Normal -1.4
Cherokee County, NC 48.0 Normal -2.5
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal -3.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Macon County
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated +0.0
Itawamba County, MS 50.5 Elevated -0.0
Pontotoc County, OK 50.5 Elevated +0.0
Howard County, MO 50.4 Elevated -0.1
Taos County, NM 50.6 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Macon 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 Macon 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 Macon County, North Carolina?

    Macon County has a County Distress Index score of 50.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,545th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 71st in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Macon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Macon County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 69.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Macon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Macon County (50.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Graham County, NC (60.1); Swain County, NC (57.3); Jackson County, NC (53.4).

  • 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). Macon County's score of 50.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Macon 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 Macon County?

    Macon County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 38,412 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.