Pamlico County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.5 | 12,423 people · 70th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Pamlico County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.5 — 1544th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within North Carolina, it ranks 70th of 100 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pamlico County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 64.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 64.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 48
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Structural Poverty 64.0
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 81
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 79
Consumer Credit Distress 63.3
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 55
Housing Cost Burden 21.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 6
Legal Distress 12.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pamlico County
Pamlico County, NC 50.5 Elevated —
Hyde County, NC 68.1 Serious +17.6
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated +13.1
Craven County, NC 62.6 Elevated +12.0
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal -6.2

Population Peers

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

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pamlico 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 Pamlico 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 Pamlico County, North Carolina?

    Pamlico County has a County Distress Index score of 50.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,544th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 70th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pamlico County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pamlico County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 64.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Pamlico County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pamlico County (50.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hyde County, NC (68.1); Beaufort County, NC (63.6); Craven County, NC (62.6).

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

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

    Pamlico 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 Pamlico County?

    Pamlico County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 12,423 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.