About one in five people in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, has a disability
In Pittsylvania County, 19.9% of people reported a disability. That is higher than in 79% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 63% of U.S. counties.
What drives Pittsylvania County's score
In Pittsylvania County, jobs weigh most: the score for jobs is 62.8. About one in four adults aged 25 to 54 (23.9%, 2020 to 2024) isn't working, a higher share than in 68% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 62.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Pittsylvania 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.
Pittsylvania County does better than most counties on two measures: rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (18.4%, fiscal year 2027) and people without health insurance (5.7%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 62.8 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202657th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working23.9% · 2020 to 202468th percentile
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- 62.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind7.0% · August 202574th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind5.3% · August 202552nd percentile
- People with a subprime credit score43.4% · second quarter of 202661st percentile
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- 61.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector22.8% · August 202548th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people194.7 · 202573rd percentile
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- 53.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.5% · 202452nd percentile
- Children below the poverty line15.5% · 202441st percentile
- People with a disability19.9% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- People without health insurance5.7% · 2020 to 202427th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$61,655 · 202465th percentile
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- 52.1 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 rent23.3% · 2020 to 202479th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income18.4% · fiscal year 202725th 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 Pittsylvania County has changed
The number of jobs located in Pittsylvania County had its largest drop, from 16,975 in 2000 to 13,247 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Pittsylvania County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about a quarter
High on the chart: 16,975 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Pittsylvania County, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.1% | 2025 3.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 14.2% | 2024 13.5% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $28,028 | 2024 $61,655 |
The table uses 3.9% for 2025; the score uses 4.2% 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 Pittsylvania County's history
1767
Pittsylvania County formed in 1767 with territory from Halifax County. Wikipedia
1980
The county's largest recorded population was the 1980 Census count of 66,147. The 2020 Census counted 60,501, 91% of the peak. Census Bureau
1995
A thunderstorm in June 1995 did $1.1 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1996
A flash flood in September 1996 did $4.3 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flash flood in September 2018 did $1.27 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flash flood in October 2018 did $1.54 million in property damage and killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
27 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Pittsylvania County, 7 of them for flooding. FEMA
Pittsylvania County beside its neighbors
Of the eight counties that border Pittsylvania County, in Virginia and North Carolina, four score higher.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Danville city, VA | 98 | 22.9% | — |
| Halifax County, VA | 85 | 15.0% | 38.4% |
| Henry County, VA | 85 | 16.0% | — |
| Rockingham County, NC | 74 | 17.2% | 33.3% |
| Pittsylvania County, VA | 63 | 13.5% | — |
| Caswell County, NC | 60 | 16.8% | 32.2% |
| Campbell County, VA | 41 | 11.2% | — |
| Franklin County, VA | 37 | 12.3% | 26.9% |
| 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 Pittsylvania County the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Pittsylvania County's poverty rate was 13.5% in 2024, 51st 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, Pittsylvania County ranks 53rd of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Pittsylvania 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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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 Pittsylvania 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.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.