Unemployment in Prince George County, Virginia, is lower than in 78% of U.S. counties
In Prince George County, 3.3% of the labor force was out of work, on average. That is lower than in 78% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 57% of U.S. counties.
What drives Prince George County's score
In Prince George County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 71.0. Jobs are the lowest part, at 23.2.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Prince George 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.
Even so, Prince George County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (244.9, 2025) and rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income (24.5%, fiscal year 2027).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 71.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector25.2% · August 202557th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people244.9 · 202584th percentile
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- 55.3 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.9% · August 202539th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.9% · August 202571st percentile
- People with a subprime credit score41.4% · second quarter of 202654th percentile
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- 53.2 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 rent13.7% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income24.5% · fiscal year 202780th percentile
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- 23.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line11.3% · 202433rd percentile
- Children below the poverty line11.0% · 202417th percentile
- People with a disability13.4% · 2020 to 202425th percentile
- People without health insurance5.3% · 2020 to 202423rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$80,906 · 202419th percentile
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- 23.2 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202620th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.8% · 2020 to 202425th 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 Prince George County has changed
The number of jobs located in Prince George County had its largest rise, from 13,097 in 2010 to 15,005 in 2015.
The number of jobs located in Prince George County rose by more than half to 15,576, the highest on the chart
High on the chart: 15,576 in 2025. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Prince George County, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 3.8% | 2025 3.2% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 7.8% | 2024 11.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $37,670 | 2024 $80,906 |
The table uses 3.2% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% 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 Prince George County's history
1703
Prince George County formed in 1703 from Charles City County south of James River. Wikipedia
1999
A flash flood in September 1999 did $1.4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 43,010, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
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Since 1977
19 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Prince George County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Prince George County beside its neighbors
Of the seven counties that border Prince George County, five score higher.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city, VA | 99 | 23.3% | — |
| Hopewell city, VA | 99 | 17.1% | — |
| Sussex County, VA | 87 | 21.9% | 39.0% |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 73 | 10.1% | — |
| Charles City County, VA | 68 | 11.4% | 25.1% |
| Prince George County, VA | 42 | 11.3% | — |
| Surry County, VA | 39 | 11.7% | 29.2% |
| 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 Prince George County the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Prince George County's poverty rate was 11.3% in 2024, 76th 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, Prince George County ranks 79th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Prince George 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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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 Prince George 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.