About one in 17 people in Poquoson city, Virginia, lives below the poverty line
In Poquoson city, 5.8% of people lived below the poverty line. That is lower than in 98% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 95% of U.S. counties.
What drives Poquoson city's score
In Poquoson city, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 35.5. Income and the safety net is the lowest part, at 6.8.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Poquoson 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.
Poquoson city isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 35.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector12.9% · August 202511th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people150.4 · 202559th percentile
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- 20.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.2% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202618th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.0% · 2020 to 202421st percentile
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- 18.1 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 rent12.2% · 2020 to 202419th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income17.4% · fiscal year 202716th percentile
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- 12.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind3.5% · August 202517th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.1% · August 202516th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score25.6% · second quarter of 20265th or lower percentile
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- 6.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line5.8% · 20245th or lower percentile
- Children below the poverty line5.7% · 20245th or lower percentile
- People with a disability11.9% · 2020 to 202414th percentile
- People without health insurance2.3% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$115,073 · 20245th or lower 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 Poquoson city has changed
The number of jobs located in Poquoson city had its largest rise, from 1,651 in 2000 to 2,020 in 2005.
The number of jobs located in Poquoson city was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 8% since
High on the chart: 2,020 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Poquoson city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.9% | 2025 2.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 3.6% | 2024 5.8% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $49,863 | 2024 $115,073 |
The table uses 2.9% for 2025; the score uses 3.2% 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 Poquoson city's history
1631
First reference to Poquoson believed to be land grant of 500 acres to Christopher Calthorpe in 1631. Wikipedia
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 12,460, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
18 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Poquoson city, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Poquoson city beside its neighbors
All two counties that border Poquoson city score higher than it does.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hampton city, VA | 90 | 13.9% | 28.2% |
| York County, VA | 13 | 5.3% | — |
| Poquoson city, VA | 4 | 5.8% | — |
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 Poquoson city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Poquoson city's poverty rate was 5.8% in 2024, 127th 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, Poquoson city ranks 131st of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Poquoson 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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Legal Aid Society of Eastern 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 Poquoson 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.