Wilson County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Serious · 75.8 | 78,970 people · 10th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Wilson County, NC shows significant household financial distress with a score of 75.8 — 161st 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 10th 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. Wilson County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 85.5 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 85.5
Debt in Collections 88
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 92
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 90
Housing Cost Burden 77.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 94
Structural Poverty 71.9
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Legal Distress 56.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Economic Vitality 42.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 70
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 74

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Wilson County, NC 75.8 Serious —
Edgecombe County, NC 82.6 Crisis +6.8
Greene County, NC 73.6 Serious -2.1
Pitt County, NC 72.6 Serious -3.2
Wayne County, NC 71.4 Serious -4.4
Nash County, NC 67.7 Serious -8.1
Johnston County, NC 55.5 Elevated -20.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wilson County
Wyandotte County, KS 75.9 Serious +0.2
Maverick County, TX 75.9 Serious +0.2
St. Landry Parish, LA 76.1 Serious +0.3
Newport News city, VA 75.3 Serious -0.5
Montgomery County, AL 76.3 Serious +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wilson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Wilson County.

WILSON COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, INC.
Wilson
252-243-4855x214 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 Wilson 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 Wilson County, North Carolina?

    Wilson County has a County Distress Index score of 75.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 161st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wilson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wilson County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 85.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wilson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wilson County (75.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Edgecombe County, NC (82.6); Greene County, NC (73.6); Pitt County, NC (72.6).

  • 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 Serious 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). Wilson County's score of 75.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wilson 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 Wilson County?

    Wilson County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 78,970 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.