In Petersburg city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Petersburg city, 42.0% 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 Petersburg city's score
In Petersburg city, collections and bankruptcy weighs most: the score for collections and bankruptcy is 98.8. Late payments on loans come next, at 97.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Petersburg 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.
Petersburg city does better than most counties on one measure: people without health insurance (6.5%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 98.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector45.4% · August 202598th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people567.4 · 202599th percentile
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- 97.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind10.0% · August 202594th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind12.8% · August 202597th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score66.3% · second quarter of 202699th percentile
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- 95.6 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 rent26.8% · 2020 to 202491st percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income42.0% · fiscal year 202799th percentile
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- 79.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line23.3% · 202494th percentile
- Children below the poverty line33.2% · 202495th percentile
- People with a disability19.5% · 2020 to 202477th percentile
- People without health insurance6.5% · 2020 to 202436th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$47,130 · 202495th percentile
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- 78.1 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202688th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.9% · 2020 to 202468th 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 Petersburg city has changed
The number of jobs located in Petersburg city had its largest drop, from 14,319 in 2010 to 13,009 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Petersburg city fell 29% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its lowest on the chart
High on the chart: 16,900 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Petersburg city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 7.1% | 2025 5.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 24.3% | 2024 23.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $22,685 | 2024 $47,130 |
The table uses 5.0% for 2025; the score uses 5.6% 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 Petersburg city's history
1748
Incorporated as an independent city on December 17, 1748. Wikipedia
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 41,055. The 2020 Census counted 33,458, 81% of the peak. Census Bureau
1984
A tornado in May 1984 did $25 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2025
A flash flood in July 2025 did $4.76 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Petersburg city, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Petersburg city beside its neighbors
Petersburg city scores higher than all four counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city, VA | 99 | 23.3% | — |
| Colonial Heights city, VA | 79 | 9.6% | — |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 73 | 10.1% | — |
| 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 Petersburg city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Petersburg city's poverty rate was 23.3% in 2024, 6th 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, Petersburg city ranks 1st of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Petersburg 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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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 Petersburg 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.