In Colonial Heights city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Colonial Heights city, 28.9% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 95% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 79% of U.S. counties.
What drives Colonial Heights city's score
In Colonial Heights city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 95.0. Late payments on loans come next, at 84.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Colonial Heights city: 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.
Colonial Heights city does better than most counties on two measures: people below the poverty line (9.6%, 2024) and adults 25 to 54 not working (17.2%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.0 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 rent32.0% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.9% · fiscal year 2027top 5%
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- 84.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.6% · August 202580th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.0% · August 202594th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score49.0% · second quarter of 202677th percentile
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- 79.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector27.1% · August 202564th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people353.4 · 202594th percentile
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- 41.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.6% · 202419th percentile
- Children below the poverty line14.8% · 202437th percentile
- People with a disability17.0% · 2020 to 202459th percentile
- People without health insurance7.6% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,642 · 202444th percentile
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- 36.0 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.9% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202643rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.2% · 2020 to 202428th 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.
How Colonial Heights city has changed
The number of jobs located in Colonial Heights city had its largest rise, from 7,657 in 1995 to 9,293 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Colonial Heights city was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and is down 12% since
High on the chart: 10,998 in 2015. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Colonial Heights city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.1% | 2025 3.4% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 4.9% | 2024 9.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $36,959 | 2024 $68,642 |
The table uses 3.4% for 2025; the score uses 3.9% 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 Colonial Heights city's history
1999
A flash flood in September 1999 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2008
A tornado in April 2008 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 18,170, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1972
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Colonial Heights city, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Colonial Heights city beside its neighbors
Of the two counties that border Colonial Heights city, one scores higher.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city, VA | 99 | 23.3% | — |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | 79 | 9.6% | — |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 34 | 7.1% | 17.1% |
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: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Colonial Heights city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Colonial Heights city's poverty rate was 9.6% in 2024, 90th highest of 133 in Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Radford city, at 27.2%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Colonial Heights city ranks 30th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Colonial Heights city
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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Central Virginia Legal Aid Society
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 Colonial Heights city · 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.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.