About one in eight people in New Hanover County, North Carolina, has a disability
In New Hanover County, 12.1% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 84% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 58% of U.S. counties.
What drives New Hanover County's score
In New Hanover County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 92.1. Jobs are the lowest part, at 23.3. About one in six adults aged 25 to 54 (16.2%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a lower share than in 77% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in New Hanover County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, New Hanover County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (28.4%, 2020 to 2024) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (26.5%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 92.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent28.4% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income26.5% · fiscal year 202789th percentile
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- 38.7 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.1% · August 202544th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.6% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score35.2% · second quarter of 202630th percentile
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- 35.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.0% · August 202541st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people87.5 · 202529th percentile
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- 35.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.7% · 202437th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.0% · 202433rd percentile
- People with a disability12.1% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- People without health insurance9.6% · 2020 to 202463rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$77,098 · 202425th percentile
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- 23.3 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202623rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.2% · 2020 to 202422nd percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in New Hanover County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In New Hanover County, 19.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
New Hanover County
North Carolina
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In New Hanover County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 20.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in more than twice as much as benefit checks
In New Hanover County, North Carolina, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 20.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in New Hanover County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 10.0% in 2012 to 11.6% in 2013.
The share of households in New Hanover County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 7.9% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, New Hanover County, North Carolina.
How New Hanover County has changed
New Hanover County's population had its largest rise, from 178,362 in 2004 to 200,178 in 2009.
New Hanover County's population tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 243,333, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 1974 to 1979, reaching 101,600. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, New Hanover County, North Carolina.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in New Hanover County doubled to 131,696, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2020 to 2025, reaching 131,696. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, New Hanover County, North Carolina.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.5% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.1% | 2024 11.7% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $26,677 | 2024 $77,098 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in New Hanover County's history
1729
Formed in 1729. Wikipedia
2000
A rip current in August 2000 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
A rip current in September 2000 killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
2009
Lightning in September 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 225,702, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2020
Lightning in August 2020 killed two people. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1984
32 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered New Hanover County, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
New Hanover County beside its neighbors
Of the two counties that border New Hanover County, one scores higher. Of the group, New Hanover County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Brunswick County gets the largest, at 31.9%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brunswick County, NC | 42 | 9.0% | 31.9% |
| New Hanover County, NC | 41 | 11.7% | 20.4% |
| Pender County, NC | 31 | 10.4% | 25.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is New Hanover County the poorest county in North Carolina?
No, New Hanover County's poverty rate was 11.7% in 2024, 79th highest of 100 in North Carolina (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Robeson County, at 23.7%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, New Hanover County ranks 78th of 100 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in New Hanover County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Cape Fear Regional CDC
HUD-approved housing counselor
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City of Wilmington
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid of North Carolina
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for New Hanover County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in New Hanover County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.