Unemployment in Emporia city, Virginia, is higher than in 98% of U.S. counties
In Emporia city, 8.0% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 98% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 97% of U.S. counties.
What drives Emporia city's score
In Emporia city, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 95.0. People with a credit card behind: 10.8%, August 2025, higher than in 95% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 92.7.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Emporia 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.
Emporia city does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (4.7%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 95.0 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind10.8% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a car or retail loan behind12.1% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a subprime credit score61.9% · second quarter of 2026top 5%
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- 92.7 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector37.6% · August 202590th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people366.1 · 202594th percentile
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- 77.3 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 rent21.5% · 2020 to 202469th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income25.3% · fiscal year 202784th percentile
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- 76.6 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line20.6% · 202488th percentile
- Children below the poverty line32.6% · 202494th percentile
- People with a disability22.5% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- People without health insurance4.7% · 2020 to 202415th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$48,306 · 202493rd percentile
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- 73.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year8.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 2026top 5%
- Adults 25 to 54 not working21.2% · 2020 to 202452nd 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 Emporia city has changed
The number of jobs located in Emporia city had its largest drop, from 3,926 in 2000 to 3,271 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Emporia city was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 3,926 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Emporia city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.5% | 2025 7.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.0% | 2024 20.6% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $22,559 | 2024 $48,306 |
The table uses 7.9% for 2025; the score uses 8.0% 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 Emporia city's history
1887
In 1887, Hicksford and Belfield merged, forming the newly incorporated town of Emporia. Wikipedia
1893
Poor farm conditions and Panic of 1893 caused county population decrease between 1880 and 1890. Wikipedia
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 5,927. The 2020 Census counted 5,766, 97% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1993
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Emporia city, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Emporia city beside its neighbors
Emporia city scores higher than all one counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emporia city, VA | 97 | 20.6% | — |
| Greensville County, VA | 90 | 26.2% | — |
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: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Emporia city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Emporia city's poverty rate was 20.6% in 2024, 12th 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, Emporia city ranks 5th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Emporia 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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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.
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.