The “Tar Heel” state has suffered and grown over the past few years.
A long-term decline in local manufacturing has hit small towns and communities particularly hard. Meanwhile, larger cities have done very well, fueled by a boom in financial and technology industries.
However, the state has a great deal of poverty and long-term unemployment.
“The story for North Carolina technology and banking workers is great. But households in the manufacturing and agriculture sectors are struggling,” Gary Herman, President of Consolidated Credit, stated. “People and families who are facing challenges like reduced income or unemployment must focus on paying down debt and increasing their savings. That way, they can achieve and maintain financial stability even in the face of potential economic challenges down the road.”
The latest available data says that the average North Carolina household has $10,412 in credit card debt. Citizens in this state collectively owe $38,984,626,014, an increase of $1,088,005,308 from the beginning of the year.
Don’t keep struggling on your own to eliminate your high interest rate credit card debt. Talk to a certified credit counselor to find the right debt relief option for your situation.
This chart shows a breakdown of average consumer debt in North Carolina, based on the latest report of Household Debt report from the Federal Reserve.
According to the latest data available, in 2023, there were 7,452 bankruptcy filings in North Carolina.
Income and employment in North Carolina
North Carolina continues to be an economically divided state. While metropolitan areas are growing, rural communities have been particularly hard hit.
North Carolina continues to be an economically divided state. While metropolitan areas are growing, rural communities have been particularly hard hit.
Agriculture is still a dominant industry in North Carolina. The industry supports nearly 700,000 jobs.
At the same time, Charlotte and other larger cities are growing. Charlotte is the sixteenth largest city in the U.S. and is the second-largest banking center after New York.
North Carolina is a right-to-work state. That means workers are not required to pay union membership dues even if they are at their workplace, but they can still choose to do so.
North Carolina’s pay rates could be better. The state has a per capita income of $37,641 and a median household income of $66,186. The minimum wage is $7.25 per hour.
If you are unemployed in North Carolina, your Unemployment Insurance will last 12 weeks.
North Carolina residents pay a state income tax of 4.5% and a sales tax of 4.75%. The state doesn’t have any tax-free holidays.
North Carolina residents are slightly more likely to bank than the average American. The percentage of unbanked residents — those without a checking or savings account stands at 5.4%. That’s marginally lower than the national average of 6%.
North Carolina housing market
In recent years, Raleigh and Charlotte made Zillow’s top 10 list of hottest real estate markets. While the market is expected to slow somewhat, the seller’s market remains. The average price for a home in North Carolina is $329,341, slightly lower than the national average of $408,800. Despite relatively low pricing in the state, there is still an affordability crisis. Many younger buyers and lower-income earners are getting priced out of the market.
North Carolina residents can take advantage of homestead deductions. There are also deductions for residents above the age of 65, for those who are permanently or totally disabled, and for historic properties.
For retirees, taxes in North Carolina can be good. Social Security income is not taxed, but income from retirement accounts such as 401(k) pensions is taxed at the state income tax of 4.5%. Overall, there is a lower-than-average cost of living. However, the crime rate is slightly higher than average.
The Charlotte Observer reported that residents need an average of $69,237 a month to retire comfortably in North Carolina. The average resident retires at age 63. About 25% of retirees rely upon Social Security for at least 90% of their income.
Average North Carolina insurance premiums
In North Carolina, car insurance rates depend partly on your credit score. For example, those with a poor credit score can expect to pay $2,858 on their annual premium. In comparison, those with an excellent credit score will play closer to $1,985.
The average amount North Carolinians pay for homeowner’s insurance is $2,435 per year, which is higher than the national average of $1,754.
Health insurance in North Carolina averages around $6,352. However, the state has the 10th highest uninsured rate in the United States.
Helpful resources for North Carolina residents facing hardship
North Carolina is home to 720,000 veterans. These resources are available to help Veterans that are facing unemployment, homelessness, and other hardships.
How Consolidated Credit helps North Carolina residents find debt relief
In 2024, Consolidated Credit provided free credit counseling to 5,534 North Carolina residents. Of those, 1,076 went on to consolidate their debt with our help through a debt management program (the average amount of debt enrolled was $12,762). The others received a free debt analysis and complementary budget evaluation, and they were directed to the right solution for their situation to get out of debt as quickly as possible.
We’d also like to congratulate the 409 North Carolina residents who got debt-free last year with the help of Consolidated Credit!
Relief options to consider if you’re in debt in North Carolina
A debt consolidation loan is an unsecured personal loan that you get to pay off credit cards and other existing debts. You need good credit to qualify for the lowest interest rate possible. That low rate helps lower your total payments so you can get out of debt faster, even though you may pay less each month. So, this is a good solution for North Carolina residents with a high credit score.
A home equity loan or home equity loan of credit (HELOC) is a debt solution that’s only available to North Carolina homeowners. If you have equity available in your home, you can borrow against that equity and use the funds to pay off your debt. However, this can be a risky option for paying off credit card debt if you are living paycheck-to-paycheck. Home equity lending products put consumers at risk of foreclosure if they can’t make the payments. If you are considering borrowing against your home, call 1-800-435-2261 to speak with a HUD-certified housing counselor to make sure this is a safe option for you.
Nonprofit credit counseling services like those provided by Consolidated Credit help consumers identify the best solution for getting out of debt. This is a free service. North Carolina residents can get a confidential debt and budget evaluation from a certified credit counselor. Then the counselor will explain options that are available to each person and recommend the best course of action based on an individual’s needs and goals.
If a North Carolina consumer cannot get out of debt effectively on their own but has the ability to repay everything they owe to avoid bankruptcy, a debt management program is often the best solution. You enroll in the program through a credit counseling organization. They help you find a monthly payment you can afford and then work with your creditors to reduce or eliminate interest. Qualifying residents can get out of debt in 36-60 payments.
Debt settlement allows North Carolina residents to get out of debt for a percentage of what they owe. You can settle debt on your own and negotiate with individual creditors and collectors or enroll in a debt settlement program to get professional help. This does cause credit damage. Each debt settled will be noted on your credit report for seven years from the date the account first became delinquent. However, it can be a viable debt relief option for avoiding bankruptcy when you are completely overwhelmed with debt
If you’re curious how we can help you, below you will find a few case studies from clients that we’ve helped in North Carolina. If you’re facing challenges with debt, call us at (844) 276-1544 to receive a free debt and budget evaluation from a certified credit counselor.
Ready to solve your problems with debt? Talk to a certified credit counselor for free to find the best way to get out of debt for you.
“Keep up the good work! Consolidated Credit has been very helpful in helping get my balances down. They were there for me when I need help.
”
Where
he
started:
Total unsecured debt: $5,617.39
Estimated interest charges: $2,737.78
Time to payoff: 8 years, 5 months
Total monthly payments: $224.70
After DMP enrollment:
Average negotiated interest rate: 4.80%
Total interest charges: $156.61
Time to payoff: 2 years, 7 months
Total monthly payment: $187.00
Time Saved
5 years, 10 months
Monthly Savings
$37.70
Interest Saved
$2,581.17
Case Study
Shirley
from
Mooresville, NC
“They are wonderful people to deal with, always helpful.
”
Where
she
started:
Total unsecured debt: $15,725.00
Estimated interest charges: $8,423.33
Time to payoff: 10 years, 9 months
Total monthly payments: $629.00
After DMP enrollment:
Average negotiated interest rate: 5.85%
Total interest charges: $1,697.27
Time to payoff: 4 years, 2 months
Total monthly payment: $348.00
Time Saved
6 years, 7 months
Monthly Savings
$281.00
Interest Saved
$6,726.06
Case Study
Suzanne
from
Charlotte, NC
“Consolidated Credit has helped me get my credit card debt under control. They’ve been professional and easy to work with from the first call. I high recommend them to anyone needing help and relief from debt.
”
Where
she
started:
Total unsecured debt: $25,781.00
Estimated interest charges: $15,215.62
Time to payoff: 15 years, 3 months
Total monthly payments: $1,031.24
After DMP enrollment:
Average negotiated interest rate: 5.00%
Total interest charges: $2,828.02
Time to payoff: 4 years, 10 months
Total monthly payment: $494.00
Time Saved
10 years, 5 months
Monthly Savings
$537.24
Interest Saved
$12,387.60
Want to know if Consolidated Credit can help you, too? Get a free, confidential debt and budget analysis now.
This content is based on accredited financial data gathered from reputable sources, such as government websites, credit bureaus, and nonprofit organizations. All articles are written by certified credit counselors and fact checked by certified financial experts.
Our team strives to provide educational content that fully informs readers of all their options as they relate to debt, credit and personal finance. Our goal is to give readers the information they need to make informed financial decisions on their own.
This article contains references that provide sources for the financial data we used. The numbers in brackets [1,2,3] are clickable links to each data source or study referenced.
