Swain County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.3 | 13,916 people · 53rd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Swain County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.3 — 1136th 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 53rd of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Swain County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 73.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 73.2
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 80
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 75
Structural Poverty 67.4
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Economic Vitality 42.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Housing Cost Burden 40.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 26
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 56
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Swain County
Swain County, NC 57.3 Elevated —
Graham County, NC 60.1 Elevated +2.9
Sevier County, TN 55.0 Elevated -2.2
Jackson County, NC 53.4 Elevated -3.8
Macon County, NC 50.5 Elevated -6.8
Haywood County, NC 50.0 Normal -7.3
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Swain County
Washita County, OK 57.2 Elevated -0.0
Muhlenberg County, KY 57.4 Elevated +0.1
Bollinger County, MO 57.4 Elevated +0.1
Clark County, KY 57.4 Elevated +0.1
Lunenburg County, VA 57.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Swain 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 Swain 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 Swain County, North Carolina?

    Swain County has a County Distress Index score of 57.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,136th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Swain County?

    The primary driver of distress in Swain County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 73.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Swain County compare to neighboring counties?

    Swain County (57.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Graham County, NC (60.1); Sevier County, TN (55.0); Jackson County, NC (53.4).

  • 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). Swain County's score of 57.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Swain 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 Swain County?

    Swain County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 13,916 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.