Washington County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.1 | 210,232 people · 62nd most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Washington County, PA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.1 — 2753rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks 62nd of 67 counties. It scores lower than all 9 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Washington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 42.1 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 42.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 39
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Employment & Wages 41.2
Unemployment Rate 45
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 61
Debt & Delinquency 41.1
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 33
Student Loan Delinquency 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Community Vulnerability 24.0
Uninsured Rate 8
Disability Rate 40
Income & Poverty 17.2
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Washington County compares to its 9 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
Washington County, PA 33.1 Healthy —
Fayette County, PA 66.2 Serious +33.1
Brooke County, WV 59.5 Elevated +26.4
Hancock County, WV 55.7 Elevated +22.6
Marshall County, WV 49.3 Normal +16.2
Greene County, PA 48.0 Normal +14.9
Ohio County, WV 47.5 Normal +14.4
Beaver County, PA 44.2 Normal +11.1
Westmoreland County, PA 39.3 Normal +6.1
Allegheny County, PA 35.2 Normal +2.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Washington County
Bristol County, RI 33.1 Healthy -0.0
Grand Forks County, ND 33.2 Healthy +0.0
Winnebago County, WI 33.2 Healthy +0.1
Stafford County, VA 33.3 Healthy +0.2
Cache County, UT 32.9 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Washington County.

BLUEPRINTS
Washington
724-225-9550 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Pennsylvania →

Find an Attorney

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Washington County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Washington County, Pennsylvania?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 33.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,753rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 62nd in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 42.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (33.1) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Fayette County, PA (66.2); Brooke County, WV (59.5); Hancock County, WV (55.7).

  • 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 210,232 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.