North Carolina Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 100 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in North Carolina? See your options under North Carolina law →
North Carolina ranks #26 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 100 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does North Carolina Compare to the National Average?
North Carolina is above the national average on 2 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 12.5% (above the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 6.1%, and total debt per capita at $61,070.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in North Carolina has risen 4.3pp and total household debt has grown 29.2%. The state shows a mixed distress picture across different debt categories.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: North Carolina
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005. North Carolina's State Distress Index of 52.1 (Middle fifth) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, labor, and the safety-net buffer.
North Carolina vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)North Carolina vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to North Carolina (#26) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | SDI Score | Quintile | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Carolina | 52.1 | Middle fifth | Delinquency |
| Tennessee | 53.8 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| Rhode Island | 52.3 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| Missouri | 51.1 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 8.2% | 12.5% | +4.3pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 5.7% | 6.1% | +0.3pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.89% | 0.89% | +0.0pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $47,260 | $61,070 | +29.2% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $3,120 | $4,160 | +33.3% | $4,350 |
North Carolina Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. North Carolina primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.
North Carolina primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure (power of sale) through Special Proceedings before the Clerk of Superior Court. Judicial foreclosure is also available but rarely used.
- predatory lending
- foreclosure rescue fraud
Strong Safety Net as Partial Buffer
Despite higher distress metrics, North Carolina's safety net score of 65.3 (Moderate) provides a partial buffer that many states lack. Medicaid covers 19.5% of the population, the Homeowner Assistance Fund remains active, and state foreclosure protections add additional guardrails. Even so, the Distress Index reads 52.1 (Middle fifth) — safety nets slow crises, they don't prevent them.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in North Carolina on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. North Carolina's 100 counties average 55.9 — above the national county mean of 50.0.
Distress Fifth Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edgecombe County | 87.7 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| Halifax County | 85.7 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| Scotland County | 83.8 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| Vance County | 83.5 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| Robeson County | 83.3 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
Edgecombe County ranks #25 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden County | 25.2 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Chatham County | 27.7 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Currituck County | 28.7 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Union County | 32.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Carteret County | 33.3 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The gap between North Carolina's most and least distressed counties is 62.5 points — Edgecombe County (87.7, Most distressed fifth) vs. Camden County (25.2, Least distressed fifth). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 100 North Carolina counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in North Carolina
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 13,321 mortgage complaints from North Carolina since 2012 — 122.9 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. North Carolina ranks #19 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 765 | 790 | 751 | 689 | 645 | 919 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: North Carolina
Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. North Carolina's filing rate is below the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: North Carolina
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 16.1% of North Carolina residents have debt in collections — above the national rate of 13.9%. 19.9% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 41.3% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: North Carolina
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: North Carolina
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. North Carolina scores 65.3 out of 100 (Moderate), ranking #6 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in North Carolina?
The credit card delinquency rate in North Carolina is 12.5% as of Q4 2025, ranking #14 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 8.2% in 2019.
How does North Carolina's household debt compare to the national average?
North Carolina residents carry $61,070 in total debt per capita, below the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 29.2% since 2019. North Carolina ranks #22 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in North Carolina?
Auto loan delinquency in North Carolina stands at 6.1% as of Q4 2025, above the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #12 nationally. The rate has risen from 5.7% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does North Carolina use?
North Carolina primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full North Carolina foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is North Carolina above or below the national average for financial distress?
North Carolina scores 52.1 on the State Distress Index (Middle fifth), ranking #26 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 2.1 points above the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, labor, and safety net and buffer. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in North Carolina?
The CFPB has received 13,321 mortgage complaints from North Carolina since 2012, a rate of 122.9 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #19 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.2% of North Carolina complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in North Carolina?
North Carolina had 9,847 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 90.9 per 100,000 residents — below the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #41 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 35.1% and Chapter 13 for 63.5%. Filings changed +14.5% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in North Carolina have debt in collections?
16.1% of individuals in North Carolina have debt in collections, above the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #15 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 19.9% of North Carolina residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in North Carolina?
1,200,632 residents of North Carolina receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 10.9% — below the national rate of 11.2%. This ranks #22 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -18.6% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 11.2%.
How strong is North Carolina's financial safety net?
North Carolina scores 65.3 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #6 of 51 jurisdictions (Moderate). The score combines Medicaid coverage (19.5% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (10.9%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (active), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 48.1.
Which North Carolina counties have the highest financial distress?
Edgecombe County is the most distressed county in North Carolina with a County Distress Index score of 87.7 (Most distressed fifth), ranking #25 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Halifax County (85.7), Scotland County (83.8), Vance County (83.5) round out the top distressed counties. Camden County is the least distressed at 25.2 (Least distressed fifth). See all 100 counties at /counties/north-carolina/.
How long can foreclosure take in North Carolina?
North Carolina uses non-judicial foreclosure, which allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings. In North Carolina, the bank can foreclose in roughly 60–90 days from first missed payment to sale — though individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs, and bankruptcy filings. Homeowners have a right to cure: Borrower may reinstate the loan and stop the foreclosure up to 5 days before the…. The homestead exemption is $35,000. Full details at /help/foreclosure/north-carolina/.
Where does North Carolina rank for financial distress?
North Carolina scores 52.1 on the State Distress Index (Middle fifth), ranking #26 of 51 jurisdictions. 2 of 5 key metrics exceed national averages. The highest SDI domain is Delinquency. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #6 (Moderate).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
North Carolina Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.