Virginia County Distress Index
Financial distress scores for all 133 counties in Virginia, scored 0–100 across five domains. Mean score: 52.5. 23 counties score high, very high, or extreme.
Data: Census, BLS, Urban Institute, HUD, US Courts | Scores as of 2026-03-26
Virginia Snapshot
133 Counties Scored
52.5 Mean Score
51.9 Median Score
92.5 Petersburg city Most Distressed
16.7 Arlington County Least Distressed
1 extreme county distress7 very high county distress15 high county distress27 moderate-high county distress22 moderate county distress26 moderate-low county distress19 low-moderate county distress13 low county distress3 very low county distress
Score Label Distribution Virginia County Map
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Low county distress Moderate-low county distress Moderate county distress High county distress Extreme county distress
All 133 Virginia counties colored by county distress score range. Hover for details; click released counties for full reports.
Most & Least Distressed
Most Distressed
Least Distressed
Score Distribution
How Virginia's 133 county scores are distributed across the 0–100 scale.
All Virginia Counties
133 counties ranked by distress score. Click column headers to sort.
| State Rank | Nat'l Rank | County | Score | Score Label | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | Petersburg city | 92.5 | extreme county distress | Default & Legal |
| 2 | 19 | Hopewell city | 89.3 | very high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 3 | 47 | Martinsville city | 85.1 | very high county distress | Delinquency |
| 4 | 51 | Danville city | 85.0 | very high county distress | Delinquency |
| 5 | 67 | Emporia city | 84.1 | very high county distress | Labor |
| 6 | 77 | Portsmouth city | 83.5 | very high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 7 | 109 | Franklin city | 81.8 | very high county distress | Delinquency |
| 8 | 114 | Greensville County | 81.5 | very high county distress | Labor |
| 9 | 154 | Buchanan County | 79.6 | high county distress | Labor |
| 10 | 167 | Lee County | 79.1 | high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 11 | 183 | Norfolk city | 78.5 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 12 | 202 | Bristol city | 77.8 | high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 13 | 247 | Hampton city | 76.4 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 14 | 288 | Newport News city | 75.3 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 15 | 315 | Richmond city | 74.8 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 16 | 318 | Prince Edward County | 74.8 | high county distress | Labor |
| 17 | 365 | Norton city | 73.3 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 18 | 387 | Halifax County | 72.8 | high county distress | Delinquency |
| 19 | 415 | Tazewell County | 71.9 | high county distress | Labor |
| 20 | 420 | Henry County | 71.8 | high county distress | Labor |
| 21 | 432 | Radford city | 71.4 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 22 | 433 | Lynchburg city | 71.3 | high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 23 | 459 | Sussex County | 70.8 | high county distress | Delinquency |
| 24 | 494 | Westmoreland County | 69.9 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| 25 | 510 | Roanoke city | 69.8 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 26 | 513 | Brunswick County | 69.7 | moderate-high county distress | Default & Legal |
| 27 | 544 | Buckingham County | 69.1 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 28 | 557 | Covington city | 68.9 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 29 | 570 | Colonial Heights city | 68.7 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 30 | 579 | Wise County | 68.5 | moderate-high county distress | Default & Legal |
| 31 | 644 | Essex County | 67.4 | moderate-high county distress | Default & Legal |
| 32 | 677 | Fredericksburg city | 66.8 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 33 | 714 | Williamsburg city | 66.0 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| 34 | 727 | Charlotte County | 65.6 | moderate-high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 35 | 748 | Smyth County | 65.1 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 36 | 763 | Nottoway County | 64.8 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 37 | 769 | Charles City County | 64.7 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 38 | 772 | Scott County | 64.7 | moderate-high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 39 | 781 | Dickenson County | 64.5 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| 40 | 823 | Mecklenburg County | 63.9 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 41 | 833 | Lunenburg County | 63.7 | moderate-high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 42 | 837 | Buena Vista city | 63.7 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 43 | 874 | Russell County | 62.9 | moderate-high county distress | Labor |
| 44 | 913 | Dinwiddie County | 62.3 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 45 | 949 | Richmond County | 61.7 | moderate-high county distress | Default & Legal |
| 46 | 982 | Winchester city | 61.1 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 47 | 986 | Harrisonburg city | 61.0 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 48 | 1,020 | Suffolk city | 60.5 | moderate-high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 49 | 1,027 | Galax city | 60.4 | moderate-high county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 50 | 1,053 | Accomack County | 60.0 | moderate-high county distress | Delinquency |
| 51 | 1,076 | Waynesboro city | 59.2 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 52 | 1,098 | Carroll County | 58.9 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 53 | 1,133 | Pittsylvania County | 58.4 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| 54 | 1,153 | Amherst County | 58.1 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| 55 | 1,177 | Pulaski County | 57.5 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 56 | 1,220 | Wythe County | 56.7 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 57 | 1,234 | Grayson County | 56.4 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 58 | 1,253 | Northumberland County | 56.0 | moderate county distress | Labor |
| 59 | 1,255 | Patrick County | 56.0 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 60 | 1,276 | Southampton County | 55.8 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 61 | 1,279 | Cumberland County | 55.7 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| 62 | 1,311 | Northampton County | 55.1 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 63 | 1,320 | King and Queen County | 55.0 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 64 | 1,440 | Page County | 52.7 | moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 65 | 1,461 | Chesapeake city | 52.4 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 66 | 1,492 | Amelia County | 51.9 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 67 | 1,493 | Spotsylvania County | 51.9 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 68 | 1,521 | Lancaster County | 51.4 | moderate county distress | Labor |
| 69 | 1,535 | Alleghany County | 51.1 | moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 70 | 1,536 | Caroline County | 51.1 | moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| 71 | 1,537 | Staunton city | 51.1 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 72 | 1,542 | Henrico County | 51.0 | moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 73 | 1,626 | Manassas city | 49.3 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 74 | 1,676 | Washington County | 48.3 | moderate-low county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 75 | 1,685 | Virginia Beach city | 48.3 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 76 | 1,693 | Montgomery County | 48.1 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 77 | 1,709 | Louisa County | 47.9 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 78 | 1,743 | Craig County | 47.3 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 79 | 1,792 | Lexington city | 46.5 | moderate-low county distress | Labor |
| 80 | 1,808 | Manassas Park city | 46.1 | moderate-low county distress | Delinquency |
| 81 | 1,820 | Giles County | 46.0 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 82 | 1,823 | Chesterfield County | 45.9 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 83 | 1,826 | Prince George County | 45.8 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 84 | 1,830 | Middlesex County | 45.8 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 85 | 1,861 | Appomattox County | 45.4 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 86 | 1,867 | Campbell County | 45.2 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 87 | 1,884 | Salem city | 44.9 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 88 | 1,891 | Surry County | 44.7 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 89 | 1,978 | King William County | 43.3 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 90 | 1,983 | Charlottesville city | 43.2 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 91 | 1,988 | Mathews County | 43.1 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 92 | 1,996 | Isle of Wight County | 42.9 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 93 | 2,041 | Franklin County | 41.9 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 94 | 2,057 | Culpeper County | 41.6 | moderate-low county distress | Delinquency |
| 95 | 2,085 | Prince William County | 41.1 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 96 | 2,092 | Nelson County | 41.0 | moderate-low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 97 | 2,128 | Orange County | 40.2 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 98 | 2,133 | Bland County | 40.1 | moderate-low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 99 | 2,150 | Gloucester County | 39.9 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 100 | 2,175 | Stafford County | 39.4 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 101 | 2,190 | Bedford County | 39.1 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 102 | 2,196 | Highland County | 39.0 | low-moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 103 | 2,202 | Greene County | 38.9 | low-moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 104 | 2,203 | Shenandoah County | 38.9 | low-moderate county distress | Labor |
| 105 | 2,268 | Fluvanna County | 37.5 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 106 | 2,291 | King George County | 37.1 | low-moderate county distress | Delinquency |
| 107 | 2,333 | Alexandria city | 36.3 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 108 | 2,392 | Augusta County | 35.0 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 109 | 2,454 | Frederick County | 33.8 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 110 | 2,471 | Warren County | 33.3 | low-moderate county distress | Default & Legal |
| 111 | 2,476 | James City County | 33.2 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 112 | 2,491 | Fairfax city | 33.0 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 113 | 2,518 | Clarke County | 32.4 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 114 | 2,554 | York County | 31.5 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 115 | 2,601 | Floyd County | 30.5 | low-moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 116 | 2,615 | Albemarle County | 30.2 | low-moderate county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 117 | 2,621 | Rockbridge County | 30.1 | low-moderate county distress | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 118 | 2,638 | Roanoke County | 29.6 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 119 | 2,659 | Rappahannock County | 28.9 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 120 | 2,667 | New Kent County | 28.7 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 121 | 2,670 | Rockingham County | 28.6 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 122 | 2,695 | Fauquier County | 28.1 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 123 | 2,740 | Hanover County | 27.0 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 124 | 2,746 | Bath County | 26.6 | low county distress | Delinquency |
| 125 | 2,799 | Powhatan County | 25.2 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 126 | 2,828 | Fairfax County | 24.6 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 127 | 2,839 | Madison County | 24.2 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 128 | 2,911 | Poquoson city | 22.0 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 129 | 2,958 | Loudoun County | 20.3 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 130 | 2,961 | Botetourt County | 20.2 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 131 | 2,989 | Goochland County | 19.6 | very low county distress | Default & Legal |
| 132 | 3,011 | Falls Church city | 18.8 | very low county distress | Labor |
| 133 | 3,038 | Arlington County | 16.7 | very low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
How County Scores Work
Each county is scored 0–100 using five equal-weighted domains. Each domain averages its member indicators' county ranks, and the composite is the mean of those domain scores. Higher scores indicate greater household financial distress.
extreme county distress — 1 Virginia county
very high county distress — 7 Virginia counties
high county distress — 15 Virginia counties
moderate-high county distress — 27 Virginia counties
moderate county distress — 22 Virginia counties
moderate-low county distress — 26 Virginia counties
low-moderate county distress — 19 Virginia counties
low county distress — 13 Virginia counties
very low county distress — 3 Virginia counties
exceptionally low county distress — 0 Virginia counties