Caldwell, Onslow, Pitt and Wilkes counties lost ground in the 2020 County Distress Rankings recently released by the North Carolina Department of Commerce.
The study looks at the average unemployment rate, the median household income, percentage of growth of population and adjusted property tax base per capita when it ranks each of the 100 counties in North Carolina. The 2020 rankings position the counties by their economic distress and place 40 counties in Tier 1, 40 counties in Tier 2 and 20 counties in Tier 3.
Tier 1 counties are the most distressed while Tier 3 counties are the least distressed.
The County Tier Designations Memo notes that Caldwell shifted to Tier 1 because its economic distress rank went from No. 43 to No. 40.
"While the county’s median household income ranking improved compared to 2019, its property tax base per capita, population growth and unemployment rate rankings declined," the memo stated.
Onslow is shifting from Tier 2 to Tier 1 because its ranking went from No. 41 to No. 39.
"The county’s property tax base per capita, population growth and unemployment rate rankings declined compared to 2019," the memo said.
Pitt shifted from Tier 2 to Tier 1 because it fell from No. 42 to No. 33, with the memo noting that the population grown, median household income and unemployment rates all declined compared to the previous year.
Wilkes dropped in tiers because it slid from No. 50 to No. 34 after declining in all four areas.
Statewide, seven counties will change their tier designations in 2020. Gates, Hoke and Surry will move up in the rankings, according to the Department of Commerce. The Department of Commerce ranks the counties every year to help determine how to incorporate various state programs that will encourage statewide economic activity.
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