Onslow County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.2 | 213,676 people · 33rd most distressed in North Carolina
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Onslow County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.2 — 697th 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 33rd of 100 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Onslow County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.9 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 66.8
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 76
Economic Vitality 63.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 43
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Structural Poverty 39.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 57
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Legal Distress 37.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Onslow County
Onslow County, NC 64.2 Elevated —
Duplin County, NC 70.0 Serious +5.9
Jones County, NC 69.1 Serious +5.0
Pender County, NC 50.1 Elevated -14.1
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal -19.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Onslow County
Clay County, FL 64.2 Elevated +0.0
Rutherford County, NC 64.2 Elevated +0.0
Whitfield County, GA 64.1 Elevated -0.1
Lyon County, NV 64.1 Elevated -0.1
Raleigh County, WV 64.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Onslow County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Onslow County.

CITY OF JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville
910-938-6551
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPre-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 Onslow 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 Onslow County, North Carolina?

    Onslow County has a County Distress Index score of 64.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 697th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Onslow County?

    The primary driver of distress in Onslow County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Onslow County compare to neighboring counties?

    Onslow County (64.2) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Duplin County, NC (70.0); Jones County, NC (69.1); Pender County, NC (50.1).

  • 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). Onslow County's score of 64.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Onslow 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 Onslow County?

    Onslow County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 213,676 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.