Richmond County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 74.8 | 42,324 people · 12th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Richmond County, NC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 74.8 — 194th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within North Carolina, it ranks 12th of 100 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Richmond County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 84.5 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 84.5
Debt in Collections 94
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 61
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 80.2
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 92
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Housing Cost Burden 78.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 85
Economic Vitality 43.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Legal Distress 32.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Richmond County
Richmond County, NC 74.8 Serious —
Scotland County, NC 81.2 Crisis +6.4
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +2.6
Marlboro County, SC 74.1 Serious -0.7
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious -4.2
Hoke County, NC 67.9 Serious -6.9
Montgomery County, NC 51.0 Elevated -23.8
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -24.6
Moore County, NC 38.7 Normal -36.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Richmond County
Claiborne Parish, LA 74.8 Serious +0.0
Laurens County, GA 74.8 Serious -0.0
Powell County, KY 74.8 Serious +0.0
Okmulgee County, OK 74.8 Serious -0.0
DeSoto County, FL 74.9 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Richmond County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Richmond County.

SANDHILLS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Rockingham
910-410-0207 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseRental Help

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 Richmond 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 Richmond County, North Carolina?

    Richmond County has a County Distress Index score of 74.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 194th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Richmond County?

    The primary driver of distress in Richmond County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 84.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Richmond County compare to neighboring counties?

    Richmond County (74.8) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Scotland County, NC (81.2); Anson County, NC (77.5); Marlboro County, SC (74.1).

  • 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 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). Richmond County's score of 74.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Richmond 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 Richmond County?

    Richmond County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 42,324 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.