Stanly County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.3 | 65,699 people · 72nd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Stanly County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.2 — 1559th 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 72nd 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. Stanly County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.7
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 68
Subprime Credit Population 62
Housing Cost Burden 40.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 54
Economic Vitality 39.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 10
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 80
Structural Poverty 38.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Legal Distress 10.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Stanly County
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated —
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +27.2
Richmond County, NC 74.8 Serious +24.6
Rowan County, NC 61.2 Elevated +11.0
Davidson County, NC 53.5 Elevated +3.2
Cabarrus County, NC 53.1 Elevated +2.9
Montgomery County, NC 51.0 Elevated +0.8
Union County, NC 39.1 Normal -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Stanly County
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated 0.0
Twin Falls County, ID 50.2 Elevated -0.0
Lebanon County, PA 50.3 Elevated +0.0
Blair County, PA 50.2 Elevated -0.1
Fairfield County, OH 50.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Stanly 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 Stanly 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 Stanly County, North Carolina?

    Stanly County has a County Distress Index score of 50.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,559th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Stanly County?

    The primary driver of distress in Stanly County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Stanly County compare to neighboring counties?

    Stanly County (50.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Anson County, NC (77.5); Richmond County, NC (74.8); Rowan County, NC (61.2).

  • 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). Stanly County's score of 50.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Stanly 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 Stanly County?

    Stanly County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 65,699 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.