About one in six people in Lynchburg city, Virginia, lives below the poverty line
In Lynchburg city, 17.8% of people lived below the poverty line. That is higher than in 79% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 80% of U.S. counties.
What drives Lynchburg city's score
In Lynchburg city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 83.9. About three in ten renters (28.7%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 69.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Lynchburg 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.
Lynchburg city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (13.8%, 2020 to 2024) and people without health insurance (6.0%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 83.9 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 rent28.7% · 2020 to 202495th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income23.2% · fiscal year 202772nd percentile
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- 69.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector25.6% · August 202558th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people220 · 202579th percentile
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- 68.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.7% · August 202568th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.8% · August 202570th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score44.2% · second quarter of 202664th percentile
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- 62.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202673rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.8% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
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- 56.2 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line17.8% · 202479th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.0% · 202464th percentile
- People with a disability13.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- People without health insurance6.0% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$57,883 · 202476th 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 Lynchburg city has changed
The number of jobs located in Lynchburg city had its largest rise, from 48,475 in 1995 to 54,784 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Lynchburg city was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and is down 13% since
High on the chart: 54,784 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Lynchburg city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.7% | 2025 4.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.2% | 2024 17.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $26,921 | 2024 $57,883 |
The table uses 4.3% for 2025; the score uses 4.8% 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 Lynchburg city's history
2012
A thunderstorm in June 2012 did $7.12 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A tornado in April 2018 did $9.6 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
Heavy rain in June 2018 did $1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flash flood in August 2018 did $18 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 79,009, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1972
17 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Lynchburg city, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Lynchburg city beside its neighbors
Lynchburg city scores higher than all three counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lynchburg city, VA | 80 | 17.8% | — |
| Amherst County, VA | 61 | 12.5% | 33.2% |
| Campbell County, VA | 41 | 11.2% | — |
| Bedford County, VA | 26 | 8.9% | 24.9% |
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 Lynchburg city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Lynchburg city's poverty rate was 17.8% in 2024, 25th 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, Lynchburg city ranks 28th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Lynchburg 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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Lynchburg Community Action Group, Incorporate (aka Lyncag)
HUD-approved housing counselor
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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 Lynchburg 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.