Montgomery County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.0 | 26,085 people · 68th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Montgomery County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.0 — 1521st 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 68th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 68.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 68.7
Debt in Collections 69
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 64
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 73
Structural Poverty 64.0
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Economic Vitality 41.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 99
Housing Cost Burden 21.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 11
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 57
Legal Distress 13.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, NC 51.0 Elevated —
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +26.4
Richmond County, NC 74.8 Serious +23.8
Randolph County, NC 62.5 Elevated +11.5
Rowan County, NC 61.2 Elevated +10.2
Davidson County, NC 53.5 Elevated +2.4
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -0.8
Moore County, NC 38.7 Normal -12.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Cherokee County, KS 51.0 Elevated +0.0
Cortland County, NY 51.0 Elevated -0.0
Montgomery County, IA 51.0 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated +0.1
Appanoose County, IA 51.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Montgomery County.

SANDHILLS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
TROY
910-606-4044-209 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseRental Help

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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, North Carolina?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 51.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,521st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 68th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 68.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (51.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Anson County, NC (77.5); Richmond County, NC (74.8); Randolph County, NC (62.5).

  • 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). Montgomery County's score of 51.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 26,085 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.