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 median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). 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 96.9. 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 combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Hopewell city is worse off than the typical U.S. county on every measure in the score.
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where Hopewell city ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 96.9 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind14.3% · August 202598th percentile
- People with a credit card behind11.0% · August 202596th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score39.7% · Q4 202595th percentile
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- 95.8 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.8% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent27.1% · 2020 to 202492nd 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
Adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working28.6% · 2020 to 202486th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average5.0% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202679th percentile
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- 72.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line24.3% · 202480th percentile
- People with a disability18.1% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$52,359 · 202487th percentile
- People below the poverty line17.1% · 202476th percentile
- People without health insurance7.9% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; 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 Aug 2026.
How Hopewell city has changed
Unemployment fell from 6.1% in 1990 to 4.6% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 9,742 | 2024 7,284 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.1% | 2025 4.6% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 13.6% | 2024 17.1% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1993 $28,601 | 2024 $52,359 |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in Hopewell city's history
Largest decennial census count
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
1916
Hopewell incorporated as independent city on July 1, 1916. Wikipedia
1984
Tornado: $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
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
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 | 44 | 11.3% | — |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 37 | 7.1% | 17.1% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 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.
Hopewell city in photographs
Places in Hopewell city from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
1950 Census Enumeration District Maps - Virginia (VA) - Hopewell City - Hopewell - ED 111-1 to 14 - NARA - 51435557.jpg.
Photo: Unknown author Unknown author or not provided via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
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Hopewell city, Virginia: common questions
What is the poverty rate in Hopewell city, Virginia?
17.1% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in six people. Among children it was 24.3%.
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.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Hopewell city
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Commonwealth Catholic Charities
HUD-approved housing counselor
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Legal Aid Justice Center
Legal aid
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Virginia Poverty Law Center
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies 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 Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.