Northampton County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.4 | 16,715 people · 11th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Northampton County, NC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.4 — 174th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within North Carolina, it ranks 11th of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Northampton County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 89.2 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 89.2
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 93
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 94
Consumer Credit Distress 81.5
Debt in Collections 80
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 93
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 64
Subprime Credit Population 90
Legal Distress 71.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Housing Cost Burden 63.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 70
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 56
Economic Vitality 55.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 36
House Price Change (YoY) 95

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Northampton County, NC 75.4 Serious —
Hertford County, NC 82.9 Crisis +7.6
Halifax County, NC 81.7 Crisis +6.3
Bertie County, NC 76.6 Serious +1.3
Greensville County, VA 73.6 Serious -1.8
Warren County, NC 72.4 Serious -2.9
Brunswick County, VA 63.7 Elevated -11.7
Southampton County, VA 57.4 Elevated -18.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Jefferson Davis County, MS 75.3 Serious -0.0
Colleton County, SC 75.3 Serious -0.0
Peach County, GA 75.5 Serious +0.1
Calhoun County, FL 75.5 Serious +0.1
Wayne County, MO 75.2 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Northampton County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Northampton County.

CHOANOKE AREA DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION OF NC, INC.
Rich Square
252-539-4155 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Northampton 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 Northampton County, North Carolina?

    Northampton County has a County Distress Index score of 75.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 174th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Northampton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Northampton County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 89.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Northampton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Northampton County (75.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Hertford County, NC (82.9); Halifax County, NC (81.7); Bertie County, NC (76.6).

  • 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 Serious 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). Northampton County's score of 75.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Northampton 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 Northampton County?

    Northampton County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 16,715 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.