Transylvania County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.5 | 33,549 people · 81st most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Transylvania County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.5 — 1870th 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 81st of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Transylvania County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 65.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 65.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 46
Economic Vitality 59.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 63
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Structural Poverty 43.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Consumer Credit Distress 39.0
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 25
Legal Distress 13.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Transylvania County
Transylvania County, NC 45.5 Normal —
Pickens County, SC 61.4 Elevated +15.9
Greenville County, SC 53.9 Elevated +8.4
Jackson County, NC 53.4 Elevated +7.9
Haywood County, NC 50.0 Normal +4.5
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal +1.4
Henderson County, NC 41.2 Normal -4.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Transylvania County
Owen County, IN 45.5 Normal -0.0
Jefferson County, PA 45.5 Normal -0.0
Barton County, KS 45.6 Normal +0.1
Osage County, KS 45.4 Normal -0.1
Beltrami County, MN 45.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Transylvania 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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania County, North Carolina?

    Transylvania County has a County Distress Index score of 45.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,870th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 81st in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Transylvania County?

    The primary driver of distress in Transylvania County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 65.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Transylvania County compare to neighboring counties?

    Transylvania County (45.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pickens County, SC (61.4); Greenville County, SC (53.9); 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 Normal 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). Transylvania County's score of 45.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Transylvania 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 Transylvania County?

    Transylvania County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 33,549 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.