Vance County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Crisis · 82.3 | 42,301 people · 3rd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Vance County, NC ranks among the most financially distressed counties in America with a score of 82.2 — 40th 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 3rd of 100 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Vance County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 92.1 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 92.1
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 96
Credit Card Delinquency 97
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 97
Structural Poverty 87.6
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 93
Income vs. State Median 95
Child Poverty Rate 97
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 91
Housing Cost Burden 76.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 95
Legal Distress 61.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Economic Vitality 53.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 84
Business Formation Rate 28
House Price Change (YoY) 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Vance County
Vance County, NC 82.3 Crisis —
Warren County, NC 72.4 Serious -9.8
Franklin County, NC 63.9 Elevated -18.4
Mecklenburg County, VA 61.9 Elevated -20.3
Granville County, NC 60.9 Elevated -21.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Vance County
Morehouse Parish, LA 82.1 Crisis -0.2
Mississippi County, MO 82.0 Crisis -0.3
Charlton County, GA 82.5 Crisis +0.3
Edgecombe County, NC 82.6 Crisis +0.4
Holmes County, MS 82.7 Crisis +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Vance 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 Vance 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 Vance County, North Carolina?

    Vance County has a County Distress Index score of 82.3 out of 100, placing it in the Crisis zone. It ranks 40th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Vance County?

    The primary driver of distress in Vance County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 92.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Vance County compare to neighboring counties?

    Vance County (82.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Warren County, NC (72.4); Franklin County, NC (63.9); Mecklenburg County, VA (61.9).

  • 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 Crisis 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). Vance County's score of 82.3 sits in the Crisis zone (86 and above).

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

    Vance 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 Vance County?

    Vance County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 42,301 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.