Transylvania County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.8 | 33,549 people · 69th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Transylvania County, NC registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.8 — 1525th 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 69th of 100 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Transylvania County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 63
Community Vulnerability 56.5
Uninsured Rate 76
Disability Rate 37
Employment & Wages 47.4
Unemployment Rate 30
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 40
Income & Poverty 45.6
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 53
Debt & Delinquency 44.1
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 54
Student Loan Delinquency 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Transylvania County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Transylvania County
Transylvania County, NC 50.8 Elevated —
Pickens County, SC 59.8 Elevated +9.0
Jackson County, NC 54.7 Elevated +3.9
Haywood County, NC 50.5 Elevated -0.3
Oconee County, SC 48.3 Normal -2.5
Henderson County, NC 46.6 Normal -4.3
Greenville County, SC 45.1 Normal -5.7

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Transylvania County
Reeves County, TX 50.8 Elevated -0.0
Logan County, CO 50.9 Elevated +0.0
Breckinridge County, KY 50.9 Elevated +0.0
Wadena County, MN 50.9 Elevated +0.0
Goshen County, WY 50.9 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Transylvania County

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 Transylvania 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 Transylvania County, North Carolina?

    Transylvania County has a County Distress Index score of 50.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,525th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 69th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Transylvania County?

    The primary driver of distress in Transylvania County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Transylvania County compare to neighboring counties?

    Transylvania County (50.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pickens County, SC (59.8); Jackson County, NC (54.7); Haywood County, NC (50.5).

  • 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 Transylvania County?

    Transylvania County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 33,549 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.