James City County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.2 | 82,654 people · 109th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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James City County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.2 — 2644th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Virginia, it ranks 109th of 133 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 7 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. James City County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Employment & Wages 58.5
Unemployment Rate 41
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Business Formation Rate 38
Debt & Delinquency 26.8
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 14
Student Loan Delinquency 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 44
Community Vulnerability 23.0
Uninsured Rate 10
Disability Rate 36
Income & Poverty 4.0
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 2
Child Poverty Rate 6

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How James City County compares to its 9 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. James City County
James City County, VA 35.2 Normal —
Newport News city, VA 65.8 Serious +30.6
Williamsburg city, VA 52.9 Elevated +17.8
Charles City County, VA 50.7 Elevated +15.5
King and Queen County, VA 46.6 Normal +11.4
Gloucester County, VA 41.0 Normal +5.8
Surry County, VA 37.3 Normal +2.2
Isle of Wight County, VA 36.9 Normal +1.7
York County, VA 33.8 Healthy -1.4
New Kent County, VA 26.9 Healthy -8.3

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. James City County
Rockingham County, VA 35.2 Normal -0.0
Washington County, RI 35.1 Normal -0.1
Walworth County, WI 35.1 Normal -0.1
Dearborn County, IN 35.3 Normal +0.1
Bingham County, ID 35.4 Normal +0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for James City County as a CSV file.

Find Help in James City County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near James City County.

JAMES CITY COUNTY OFFICE OF HOUSING
Williamsburg
757-259-5340 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Virginia →

Find an Attorney

Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-552-7977

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving James City County residents at no cost.

Virginia Legal Aid Society 540-342-3900
Legal Aid Justice Center 434-977-0553
Legal Services of Northern Virginia 703-778-6800
Virginia Poverty Law Center 804-782-9430
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society 804-648-1012
Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. (866) 534-5243
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (757) 827-5078
Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. (888) 201-2772

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Virginia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for James City County, Virginia?

    James City County has a County Distress Index score of 35.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,644th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 109th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in James City County?

    The primary driver of distress in James City County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does James City County compare to neighboring counties?

    James City County (35.2) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Newport News city, VA (65.8); Williamsburg city, VA (52.9); Charles City County, VA (50.7).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • What is the population of James City County?

    James City County, Virginia has a population of approximately 82,654 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.