New Hanover County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.3 | 238,852 people · 64th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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New Hanover County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.3 — 1436th 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 64th of 100 counties. It scores higher than all 2 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. New Hanover County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 91.5 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 91.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 92
Economic Vitality 66.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Consumer Credit Distress 42.8
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 28
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 43
Legal Distress 29.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Structural Poverty 23.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. New Hanover County
New Hanover County, NC 52.3 Elevated —
Pender County, NC 50.1 Elevated -2.2
Brunswick County, NC 46.7 Normal -5.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. New Hanover County
St. Clair County, AL 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Fayette County, GA 52.1 Elevated -0.2
Bannock County, ID 52.1 Elevated -0.2
Autauga County, AL 52.5 Elevated +0.2
Walton County, FL 52.5 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for New Hanover County as a CSV file.

Find Help in New Hanover County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near New Hanover County.

CAPE FEAR REGIONAL CDC
WILMINGTON
910-762-7555 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
CITY OF WILMINGTON
Wilmington
910-341-7836 Website
Fair HousingHome Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-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 New Hanover 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 New Hanover County, North Carolina?

    New Hanover County has a County Distress Index score of 52.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,436th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in New Hanover County?

    The primary driver of distress in New Hanover County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 91.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does New Hanover County compare to neighboring counties?

    New Hanover County (52.3) can be compared to its 2 neighboring counties: Pender County, NC (50.1); Brunswick County, NC (46.7).

  • 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 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). New Hanover County's score of 52.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power New Hanover County's CDI score?

    New Hanover 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 New Hanover County?

    New Hanover County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 238,852 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.