Wake County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.4 | 1,190,275 people · 86th most distressed in North Carolina
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The Research Triangle turned Wake County into one of the fastest-growing large counties in the Southeast. Population 1.19 million. Median household income 1.7 times the North Carolina figure. Poverty at 7.2%. The score is 33.6, Healthy. By almost every traditional measure, Raleigh is working. The thing that stands out is the housing math running in the background. Renter burden sits at 45.6%. The wage-to-rent ratio of 3.66 is the second lowest in this batch, behind only Salt Lake County. For a county with some of the highest wages in North Carolina, the housing costs are eating a disproportionate share. The Employment & Wages domain scores 31.2, reflecting that despite low unemployment (3.0%), wages haven't fully kept pace with what the housing market demands. Next door, Nash County scores 59.7, Elevated. Franklin County (NC) hits 53.7. Harnett reaches 52.5. Wake County is a Healthy island surrounded by Elevated neighbors. The prosperity gradient is stark enough that a 30-minute commute from Raleigh moves you nearly 20 points up the distress scale. The growth is real. So is the boundary.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wake County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.7 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 70
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 86
Economic Vitality 50.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 67
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 80
Consumer Credit Distress 40.0
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 40
Legal Distress 29.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Structural Poverty 5.5
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 3
Transfer Income Dependency 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wake County
Wake County, NC 43.4 Normal —
Nash County, NC 67.7 Serious +24.3
Franklin County, NC 63.9 Elevated +20.5
Harnett County, NC 61.0 Elevated +17.5
Granville County, NC 60.9 Elevated +17.5
Johnston County, NC 55.5 Elevated +12.0
Durham County, NC 54.3 Elevated +10.9
Chatham County, NC 31.6 Healthy -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wake County
Contra Costa County, CA 43.4 Normal -0.1
Suffolk County, NY 43.9 Normal +0.4
Orange County, CA 44.1 Normal +0.7
Allegheny County, PA 41.6 Normal -1.8
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal -3.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wake County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Wake County.

CAROLINA COMMUNITY IMPACT INC.
Raleigh
866-635-6414
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
CCCS, A DIVISION OF TRIANGLE FAMILY SERVICES, INC.
Raleigh
919-821-0790 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement
CONSUMER EDUCATION SERVICES, INC
Raleigh
877-322-8824 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing
DHIC, INC.
Raleigh
919-832-4345 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NAVICORE SOLUTIONS- RALEIGH, NC
Raleigh
866-472-4557 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase

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 Wake 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 Wake County, North Carolina?

    Wake County has a County Distress Index score of 43.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,988th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 86th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wake County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Wake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wake County (43.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Nash County, NC (67.7); Franklin County, NC (63.9); Harnett County, NC (61.0).

  • 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). Wake County's score of 43.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wake 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 Wake County?

    Wake County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 1,190,275 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.