About one in three adults aged 25 to 54 in Covington city, Virginia, is not working
In Covington city, 35.8% of adults aged 25 to 54 were not working. That is higher than in 96% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 85% of U.S. counties.
What drives Covington city's score
In Covington city, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 85.6. Late payments on loans come next, at 74.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Covington 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.
Covington city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a car or retail loan behind (4.6%, August 2025) and people with a disability (15.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 85.6 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202676th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working35.8% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
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- 74.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind9.1% · August 202591st percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind4.6% · August 202541st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score54.9% · second quarter of 202689th percentile
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- 69.8 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent22.7% · 2020 to 202476th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.0% · fiscal year 202763rd percentile
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- 66.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector30.2% · August 202574th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people144.3 · 202557th percentile
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- 62.3 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line14.8% · 202463rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line22.9% · 202475th percentile
- People with a disability15.1% · 2020 to 202441st percentile
- People without health insurance7.0% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$51,416 · 202489th 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 Covington city has changed
The number of jobs located in Covington city had its largest drop, from 4,708 in 2005 to 3,716 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Covington city was at its highest on the chart in 1995 and is down 29% since
High on the chart: 5,146 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Covington city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.0% | 2025 4.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.8% | 2024 14.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $24,038 | 2024 $51,416 |
The table uses 4.7% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% 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 Covington city's history
1819
Town of Covington established 1819, became part of Alleghany County on January 5, 1822, formed from Bath, Botetourt, and Monroe Counties. Wikipedia
1891
Covington Iron Furnace opened 1891, producing 110 tons of pig iron a day. Wikipedia
1960
The county's largest recorded population was the 1960 Census count of 11,062. The 2020 Census counted 5,737, 52% of the peak. Census Bureau
2005
Lear Corporation facility closing December 2005. Wikipedia
2008
Industrial Rayon Corporation (AET) closing March 2008. Wikipedia
2016
A flash flood in June 2016 did $3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Covington city, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Covington city beside its neighbors
Covington city scores higher than all one counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covington city, VA | 85 | 14.8% | — |
| Alleghany County, VA | 51 | 11.5% | — |
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 Covington city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Covington city's poverty rate was 14.8% in 2024, 45th 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, Covington city ranks 19th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Covington 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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Blue Ridge Legal Services
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 Covington 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.