Unemployment in Addison County, Vermont, is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties
In Addison County, 2.4% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 96% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 92% of U.S. counties.
What drives Addison County's score
In Addison County, housing costs are the highest-scoring part, at 70.0. Collections and bankruptcy is the lowest part, at 6.5. Bankruptcy filings ran at 39.8 per 100,000 people (2025), lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Addison County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Addison County is worse off than most counties on renters paying half their income or more in rent (22.6%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 70.0 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.6% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.2% · fiscal year 202764th percentile
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- 16.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line8.0% · 20248th percentile
- Children below the poverty line7.8% · 20245th percentile
- People with a disability15.3% · 2020 to 202443rd percentile
- People without health insurance4.6% · 2020 to 202413th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$88,588 · 202412th percentile
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- 11.7 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year2.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 20263rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.7% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
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- 8.6 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.2% · August 202513th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind2.2% · August 20256th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score26.8% · second quarter of 20266th percentile
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- 6.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector11.6% · August 20257th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people39.8 · 20255th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Addison County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Addison County, 22.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Addison County
Vermont
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Addison County, benefit checks' share of income has doubled since 1969, reaching 18.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about three times as much as benefit checks
In Addison County, Vermont, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 18.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Addison County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 10.1% in 2018 to 8.4% in 2019.
The share of households in Addison County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2013 and has since fallen by about a third
Low on the chart: 8.4% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Addison County, Vermont.
How Addison County has changed
Addison County's population had its largest rise, from 23,692 in 1969 to 26,403 in 1974.
Addison County's population nearly doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 38,047, with no dip in any year shown
Smallest rise: 2014 to 2019, reaching 37,387. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Addison County, Vermont.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Addison County rose 39% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
Biggest rise: 1995 to 2000, reaching 13,690. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Addison County, Vermont.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 2.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 9.8% | 2024 8.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $28,757 | 2024 $88,588 |
The table uses 2.5% for 2025; the score uses 2.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Addison County's history
1998
A flash flood in June 1998 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2004
A flash flood in August 2004 did $1.7 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2011
A flash flood in August 2011 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 37,363, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2023
A flash flood in August 2023 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1973
30 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Addison County, 21 of them for flooding. FEMA
Addison County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Addison County, in Vermont and New York, five score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Addison County ranks 7th of the eight; Rutland County is highest, at 33.2%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County, NY | 51 | 11.6% | 27.4% |
| Essex County, NY | 33 | 11.6% | 26.1% |
| Rutland County, VT | 29 | 10.0% | 33.2% |
| Windsor County, VT | 15 | 9.2% | 21.4% |
| Orange County, VT | 12 | 9.8% | 23.0% |
| Addison County, VT | 7 | 8.0% | 18.4% |
| Chittenden County, VT | 7 | 8.9% | 14.7% |
| Washington County, VT | 6 | 6.1% | 20.2% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Addison County the poorest county in Vermont?
No, Addison County's poverty rate was 8.0% in 2024, 12th highest of 14 in Vermont (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Essex County, at 13.8%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Addison County ranks 11th of 14 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Addison County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Vermont Legal Aid
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Addison County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Addison County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.