Pender County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.1 | 68,521 people · 73rd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Pender County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.1 — 1571st 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 73rd of 100 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pender County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 74.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 74.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 11
Economic Vitality 55.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Consumer Credit Distress 45.5
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 54
Structural Poverty 33.1
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Legal Distress 30.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pender County
Pender County, NC 50.1 Elevated —
Duplin County, NC 70.0 Serious +19.9
Bladen County, NC 69.3 Serious +19.2
Columbus County, NC 67.9 Serious +17.8
Sampson County, NC 66.8 Serious +16.7
Onslow County, NC 64.2 Elevated +14.1
New Hanover County, NC 52.3 Elevated +2.2
Brunswick County, NC 46.7 Normal -3.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pender County
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated +0.0
Sumner County, TN 50.0 Elevated -0.1
Blair County, PA 50.2 Elevated +0.1
St. Lawrence County, NY 50.0 Elevated -0.1
Fremont County, CO 50.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pender 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 Pender 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Pender County, North Carolina?

    Pender County has a County Distress Index score of 50.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,571st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 73rd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pender County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pender County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 74.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Pender County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pender County (50.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Duplin County, NC (70.0); Bladen County, NC (69.3); Columbus County, NC (67.9).

  • 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). Pender County's score of 50.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pender 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 Pender County?

    Pender County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 68,521 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.