In Hampton city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about three in ten dollars of the typical household's income
In Hampton city, 29.2% 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 90% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hampton city's score
In Hampton city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 96.1. About three in ten renters (29.6%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 96% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 88.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hampton 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.
Hampton city does better than most counties on two measures: adults 25 to 54 not working (18.8%, 2020 to 2024) and people without health insurance (7.0%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 96.1 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 rent29.6% · 2020 to 202496th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income29.2% · fiscal year 202795th percentile
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- 88.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind9.3% · August 202592nd percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind9.0% · August 202588th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score52.0% · second quarter of 202684th percentile
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- 86.2 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector32.8% · August 202581st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people301.2 · 202591st percentile
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- 52.9 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.9% · 202455th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.9% · 202467th percentile
- People with a disability16.4% · 2020 to 202453rd percentile
- People without health insurance7.0% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$68,468 · 202444th percentile
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- 51.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.5% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202664th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working18.8% · 2020 to 202438th 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.
Where the money in Hampton city comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Hampton city, 16.7% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Hampton city
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Hampton city, benefit checks' share of income has grown to about six times its 1969 level, reaching 28.2% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Hampton city, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income grew to about six times its 1969 level by 2024, reaching 28.2%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
SNAP food aid is one of the benefit checks counted in the income totals above.
The share of households in Hampton city getting SNAP food aid doubled to 16.1%, the highest on the chart
Biggest rise: 2011 to 2012, reaching 11.4%. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Hampton city, Virginia.
How Hampton city has changed
Hampton city's population rose 16% from 1969 to 2024, with most of the change between 1969 and 1974
High on the chart: 145,538 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Hampton city, Virginia.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Hampton city fell 12% from 1990 to 2025, with most of the change between 2015 and 2020
High on the chart: 61,955 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hampton city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.3% | 2025 4.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 11.1% | 2024 13.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $29,151 | 2024 $68,468 |
The table uses 4.2% for 2025; the score uses 4.5% 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 Hampton city's history
1610
Colonists established their own small town with a small Anglican church (now St. John's Episcopal Church) on July 9, 1610. Wikipedia
1865
Hampton University established after Civil War to educate freed African Americans and local Native Americans. Wikipedia
1997
Hail in May 1997 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1999
A tornado in September 1999 did $7.72 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2000
The county's largest recorded population was the 2000 Census count of 146,437. The 2020 Census counted 137,148, 94% of the peak. Census Bureau
2012
A tornado in June 2012 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flood in October 2016 did $2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hampton city, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hampton city beside its neighbors
Hampton city scores higher than all three counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton city, VA | 90 | 13.9% | 28.2% |
| Newport News city, VA | 85 | 12.6% | 25.9% |
| York County, VA | 13 | 5.3% | — |
| Poquoson city, VA | 4 | 5.8% | — |
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: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Hampton city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Hampton city's poverty rate was 13.9% in 2024, 49th 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, Hampton city ranks 13th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hampton 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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Hampton Redevelopment and Housing Authority
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Urban League of Hampton Roads (HAMPTON)
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid Society of Eastern 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.
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.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Hampton city comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.