Union County, North Carolina

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.9 | 256,452 people · 99th most distressed in North Carolina
American Default Research

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Union County, NC ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.9 — 2803rd 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 99th of 100 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Union County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 46.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 46.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Employment & Wages 42.2
Unemployment Rate 27
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 12
Debt & Delinquency 37.2
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 55
Student Loan Delinquency 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 16
Community Vulnerability 25.8
Uninsured Rate 48
Disability Rate 3
Income & Poverty 7.6
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 2
Child Poverty Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Union County
Union County, NC 31.9 Healthy —
Anson County, NC 75.5 Serious +43.6
Chesterfield County, SC 68.3 Serious +36.4
Stanly County, NC 44.3 Normal +12.4
Mecklenburg County, NC 44.0 Normal +12.1
Cabarrus County, NC 41.4 Normal +9.5
Lancaster County, SC 39.8 Normal +7.9

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Union County
Ottawa County, MI 31.8 Healthy -0.1
Dane County, WI 31.7 Healthy -0.2
Ada County, ID 32.1 Healthy +0.2
Boulder County, CO 31.4 Healthy -0.4
Somerset County, NJ 31.4 Healthy -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Union County.

MONROE-UNION COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Monroe
704-283-8804 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Union 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 Union County, North Carolina?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 31.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,803rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 99th in North Carolina out of 100 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 46.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (31.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Anson County, NC (75.5); Chesterfield County, SC (68.3); Stanly County, NC (44.3).

  • 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 Union County?

    Union County, North Carolina has a population of approximately 256,452 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.