Unemployment in Northumberland County, Virginia, is higher than in 92% of U.S. counties
In Northumberland County, 6.0% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is higher than in 92% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 67% of U.S. counties.
What drives Northumberland County's score
In Northumberland County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 83.9. Housing costs come next, at 59.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Northumberland County: 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.
Northumberland County does better than most counties on two measures: median household income ($73,119, 2024) and people with unpaid debt sent to a collector (19.7%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 83.9 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year6.0% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202692nd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working25.3% · 2020 to 202475th percentile
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- 59.6 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 rent18.2% · 2020 to 202450th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income22.7% · fiscal year 202768th percentile
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- 55.0 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.3% · August 202546th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind7.2% · August 202576th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score38.2% · second quarter of 202642nd percentile
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- 54.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector19.7% · August 202537th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people185.6 · 202571st percentile
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- 46.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.2% · 202441st percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.9% · 202467th percentile
- People with a disability16.3% · 2020 to 202452nd percentile
- People without health insurance6.6% · 2020 to 202438th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$73,119 · 202432nd 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 Northumberland County 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 Northumberland County, 38.0% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Northumberland County
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Northumberland County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 31.9% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in only a little more than benefit checks
In Northumberland County, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 31.9%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Northumberland County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 7.7% in 2016 to 5.6% in 2017.
The share of households in Northumberland County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 4.8% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Northumberland County, Virginia.
How Northumberland County has changed
Northumberland County's population had its largest rise, from 11,304 in 1994 to 12,180 in 1999.
Northumberland County's population rose by about a third from 1969 to 2024, reaching 12,397
High on the chart: 12,487 in 2004. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Northumberland County, Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Northumberland County had its largest drop, from 3,100 in 2005 to 2,650 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Northumberland County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and has since fallen by about a quarter
High on the chart: 3,100 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Northumberland County, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 10.1% | 2025 5.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.3% | 2024 12.2% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $21,834 | 2024 $73,119 |
The table uses 5.9% for 2025; the score uses 6.0% 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 Northumberland County's history
1648
Created by Virginia General Assembly in 1648. Wikipedia
1840
Atlantic menhaden fishing industry established by Captain Elijah W. Reed. Wikipedia
1930
Young residents left farms for more populated areas during Great Depression. Wikipedia
1937
Heathsville's grist-milling, distilling, and wagon-making industries died out. Wikipedia
2010
The county's largest recorded population was the 2010 Census count of 12,330. The 2020 Census counted 11,839, 96% of the peak. Census Bureau
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Since 1969
25 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Northumberland County, 5 of them for flooding. FEMA
Northumberland County beside its neighbors
Of the three counties that border Northumberland County, one scores higher. Of the group, Northumberland County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (31.9%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Westmoreland County, VA | 79 | 13.8% | 30.2% |
| Northumberland County, VA | 67 | 12.2% | 31.9% |
| Richmond County, VA | 65 | 16.7% | 31.4% |
| Lancaster County, VA | 53 | 11.0% | 24.6% |
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 Northumberland County the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Northumberland County's poverty rate was 12.2% in 2024, 62nd 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, Northumberland County ranks 45th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Northumberland County
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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Legal Services of Northern 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.
Download the CSV for Northumberland County · 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.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Northumberland County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.