Moore County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.2 | 106,898 people · 92nd most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Moore County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.2 — 2465th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within North Carolina, it ranks 92nd of 100 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 8 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Moore County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 56.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 56.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Employment & Wages 43.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 20
Community Vulnerability 40.3
Uninsured Rate 47
Disability Rate 33
Debt & Delinquency 32.2
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 24
Student Loan Delinquency 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15
Income & Poverty 19.0
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 22

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Moore County compares to its 9 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Moore County
Moore County, NC 38.2 Normal —
Scotland County, NC 76.8 Serious +38.6
Richmond County, NC 68.6 Serious +30.4
Cumberland County, NC 65.7 Serious +27.5
Hoke County, NC 63.3 Elevated +25.1
Randolph County, NC 61.0 Elevated +22.9
Lee County, NC 54.5 Elevated +16.3
Montgomery County, NC 54.3 Elevated +16.1
Harnett County, NC 52.5 Elevated +14.3
Chatham County, NC 32.8 Healthy -5.4

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Moore County
Wayne County, OH 38.2 Normal -0.0
Stearns County, MN 38.2 Normal +0.0
Scott County, IA 38.1 Normal -0.0
Ontario County, NY 38.3 Normal +0.1
Franklin County, MO 38.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Moore County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Moore County.

SANDHILLS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Southern Pines
910-947-5675 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-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 Moore 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 Moore County, North Carolina?

    Moore County has a County Distress Index score of 38.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,465th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 92nd in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Moore County?

    The primary driver of distress in Moore County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 56.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Moore County compare to neighboring counties?

    Moore County (38.2) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Scotland County, NC (76.8); Richmond County, NC (68.6); Cumberland County, NC (65.7).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Moore County?

    Moore County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 106,898 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.