In Hopewell city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Hopewell city, 37.8% 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 99% of U.S. counties.
What drives Hopewell city's score
In Hopewell city, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 97.0. People with a car or retail loan behind: 14.3%, August 2025, higher than in 98% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 95.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Hopewell 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.
Hopewell city is worse off than the typical U.S. county on every measure in the score.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 97.0 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind11.0% · August 202596th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind14.3% · August 202598th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score59.2% · second quarter of 202695th percentile
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- 95.8 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 rent27.1% · 2020 to 202492nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.8% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 95.1 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector38.3% · August 202591st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people492.3 · 202598th percentile
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- 83.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202679th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working28.6% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
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- 72.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.1% · 202476th percentile
- Children below the poverty line24.3% · 202480th percentile
- People with a disability18.1% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
- People without health insurance7.9% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$52,359 · 202487th 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 Hopewell city has changed
The number of jobs located in Hopewell city had its largest drop, from 9,216 in 2000 to 8,398 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Hopewell city fell by about a quarter to 7,375, the lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 10,033 in 1995. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Hopewell city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.1% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.6% | 2024 17.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $28,601 | 2024 $52,359 |
The table uses 4.6% for 2025; the score uses 5.0% 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 Hopewell city's history
1916
Hopewell incorporated as independent city on July 1, 1916. Wikipedia
1970
The county's largest recorded population was the 1970 Census count of 23,471. The 2020 Census counted 23,033, 98% of the peak. Census Bureau
1984
A tornado in May 1984 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2010
Ethanol plant explosions in September 2010 at site of former Firestone plant. Wikipedia
2015
Ethanol plant closed in 2015 after less than one year of operation, citing lack of profitability. Wikipedia
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Since 1972
15 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Hopewell city, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Hopewell city beside its neighbors
Hopewell city scores higher than all two counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hopewell city, VA | 99 | 17.1% | — |
| Prince George County, VA | 42 | 11.3% | — |
| 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 Hopewell city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Hopewell city's poverty rate was 17.1% in 2024, 31st 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, Hopewell city ranks 2nd of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hopewell 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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Commonwealth Catholic Charities
HUD-approved housing counselor
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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 Hopewell 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.