In Staunton city, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Staunton city, 21.6% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is higher than in 59% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 53% of U.S. counties.
What drives Staunton city's score
In Staunton city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 65.1. About one in five renters (21.7%, 2020 to 2024) pays half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 70% of U.S. counties. Late payments on loans come next, at 59.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Staunton 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.
Staunton city does better than most counties on two measures: unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.3%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026) and people without health insurance (6.4%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 65.1 of 100
Housing costs
Biggest factorRenters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent21.7% · 2020 to 202470th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income21.6% · fiscal year 202759th percentile
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- 59.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind5.8% · August 202555th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.4% · August 202567th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score41.9% · second quarter of 202655th percentile
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- 57.3 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector19.3% · August 202535th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people216.1 · 202578th percentile
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- 45.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line13.1% · 202449th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.5% · 202446th percentile
- People with a disability15.2% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- People without health insurance6.4% · 2020 to 202435th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$66,646 · 202450th percentile
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- 34.1 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 working20.3% · 2020 to 202447th 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 Staunton city has changed
The number of jobs located in Staunton city rose 17% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its highest on the chart, with most of the change between 1995 and 2000
High on the chart: 11,804 in 2025. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Staunton city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 4.3% | 2025 3.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.7% | 2024 13.1% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $27,986 | 2024 $66,646 |
The table uses 3.1% 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 Staunton city's history
2003
A flash flood in August 2003 did $1.3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 25,750, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A thunderstorm in July 2022 did $1.2 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
14 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Staunton city, 2 of them for flooding. FEMA
Staunton city beside its neighbors
Staunton city scores higher than all one counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Staunton city, VA | 53 | 13.1% | — |
| Augusta County, VA | 16 | 7.3% | — |
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 Staunton city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Staunton city's poverty rate was 13.1% in 2024, 53rd 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, Staunton city ranks 65th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Staunton 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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Blue Ridge Legal Services
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 Staunton 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.