In Fredericksburg city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in three dollars of the typical household's income
In Fredericksburg city, 36.0% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 99% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 66% of U.S. counties.
What drives Fredericksburg city's score
In Fredericksburg city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 91.0. Late payments on loans come next, at 71.4.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Fredericksburg 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.
Fredericksburg city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (11.4%, 2020 to 2024) and adults 25 to 54 not working (15.1%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 91.0 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 rent24.0% · 2020 to 202482nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income36.0% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 71.4 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.3% · August 202564th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind8.2% · August 202584th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score44.7% · second quarter of 202665th percentile
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- 69.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector23.8% · August 202552nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people252.4 · 202585th percentile
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- 33.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.2% · 202441st percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.9% · 202448th percentile
- People with a disability11.4% · 2020 to 202410th percentile
- People without health insurance7.7% · 2020 to 202448th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$81,253 · 202418th percentile
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- 32.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202648th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working15.1% · 2020 to 202416th 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 Fredericksburg city has changed
The number of jobs located in Fredericksburg city rose by about a third from 1990 to 2025, reaching 25,109, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 26,484 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Fredericksburg city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.8% | 2025 3.5% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 6.1% | 2024 12.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $30,390 | 2024 $81,253 |
The table uses 3.5% for 2025; the score uses 4.0% 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 Fredericksburg city's history
1862
More than 10,000 African Americans crossed the Rappahannock for freedom in 1862. Wikipedia
2009
Lightning in June 2009 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 27,982, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A thunderstorm in June 2022 did $2,000,000 in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Fredericksburg city, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Fredericksburg city beside its neighbors
Fredericksburg city scores higher than all two counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fredericksburg city, VA | 66 | 12.2% | — |
| Spotsylvania County, VA | 46 | 7.0% | — |
| Stafford County, VA | 26 | 5.4% | 15.6% |
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 Fredericksburg city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Fredericksburg city's poverty rate was 12.2% in 2024, 62nd 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, Fredericksburg city ranks 46th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Fredericksburg 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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Legal Services of Northern Virginia
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 Fredericksburg 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.