New Hanover County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.2 | 238,852 people · 78th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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New Hanover County, NC falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.2 — 1732nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within North Carolina, it ranks 78th of 100 counties. It scores higher than all 2 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. New Hanover County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 89.4 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 89.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 92
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Community Vulnerability 41.7
Uninsured Rate 69
Disability Rate 15
Employment & Wages 40.9
Unemployment Rate 27
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Business Formation Rate 10
Debt & Delinquency 40.3
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 28
Student Loan Delinquency 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Income & Poverty 28.7
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 10
Child Poverty Rate 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

How New Hanover County compares to its 2 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. New Hanover County
New Hanover County, NC 48.2 Normal —
Brunswick County, NC 46.0 Normal -2.2
Pender County, NC 44.4 Normal -3.8

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. New Hanover County
Lafayette Parish, LA 48.2 Normal 0.0
Maury County, TN 48.2 Normal +0.0
Bay County, MI 48.2 Normal +0.0
Van Buren County, MI 48.3 Normal +0.0
Kenosha County, WI 48.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for New Hanover County as a CSV file.

Find Help in New Hanover County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near New Hanover County.

CAPE FEAR REGIONAL CDC
WILMINGTON
910-762-7555 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
CITY OF WILMINGTON
Wilmington
910-341-7836 Website
Fair HousingHome Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-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 New Hanover 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 New Hanover County, North Carolina?

    New Hanover County has a County Distress Index score of 48.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,732nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 78th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in New Hanover County?

    The primary driver of distress in New Hanover County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 89.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does New Hanover County compare to neighboring counties?

    New Hanover County (48.2) can be compared to its 2 neighboring counties: Brunswick County, NC (46.0); Pender County, NC (44.4).

  • 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 New Hanover County?

    New Hanover County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 238,852 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.