Union County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 256,452 people · 94th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Union County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2244th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within North Carolina, it ranks 94th of 100 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 59.5 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 59.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 53
Housing Cost Burden 50.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 11
Consumer Credit Distress 42.4
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 41
Legal Distress 16.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16
Structural Poverty 8.2
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 3
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, NC 39.1 Normal —
Anson County, NC 77.5 Serious +38.3
Chesterfield County, SC 70.6 Serious +31.4
Mecklenburg County, NC 57.6 Elevated +18.5
Cabarrus County, NC 53.1 Elevated +14.0
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated +11.1
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal +10.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Monmouth County, NJ 39.3 Normal +0.1
Kitsap County, WA 38.9 Normal -0.3
Frederick County, MD 38.8 Normal -0.4
Washington County, OR 39.6 Normal +0.4
Lancaster County, NE 39.7 Normal +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Union County.

MONROE-UNION COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Monroe
704-283-8804 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Union 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 Union County, North Carolina?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,244th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 94th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 59.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (39.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Anson County, NC (77.5); Chesterfield County, SC (70.6); Mecklenburg County, NC (57.6).

  • 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). Union County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 256,452 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.