In Sussex County, Virginia, rent on a two-bedroom takes about two in five dollars of the typical household's income
In Sussex County, 37.2% 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 87% of U.S. counties.
What drives Sussex County's score
In Sussex County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 94.8. People with a credit card behind: 12.6%, August 2025, higher than in 95% of U.S. counties. Collections and bankruptcy comes next, at 86.5.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Sussex 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.
Sussex County does better than most counties on two measures: adults 25 to 54 not working (11.4%, 2020 to 2024) and unemployment rate, average over the latest year (3.8%, Oct 2025 to Sep 2026).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.8 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind12.6% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a car or retail loan behind12.4% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a subprime credit score58.3% · second quarter of 202694th percentile
-
- 86.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector31.4% · August 202577th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people399.7 · 2025top 5%
-
- 83.8 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 rent22.0% · 2020 to 202472nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income37.2% · fiscal year 2027top 5%
-
- 76.7 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line21.9% · 202491st percentile
- Children below the poverty line26.3% · 202485th percentile
- People with a disability17.6% · 2020 to 202464th percentile
- People without health insurance8.6% · 2020 to 202456th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$53,197 · 202485th percentile
-
- 22.6 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.8% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202640th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working11.4% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
-
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.
Where the money in Sussex County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Sussex County, 19.2% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Sussex County
Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Sussex County, benefit checks' share of income has grown since 1969, reaching 39.0% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in about a quarter more than benefit checks
In Sussex County, Virginia, benefit checks' share of income rose from 1969 to 2024, reaching 39.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Sussex County getting SNAP food aid had its largest drop, from 18.5% in 2016 to 12.4% in 2017.
The share of households in Sussex County getting SNAP food aid rose by more than half from 2009 to 2024, reaching 18.9%
High on the chart: 19.6% in 2014. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Sussex County, Virginia.
How Sussex County has changed
Sussex County's population rose most sharply after its 1994 low, from 10,134 in 1994 to 12,556 in 1999.
Sussex County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1999 and is down 14% since
High on the chart: 12,556 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Sussex County, Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Sussex County had its largest rise, from 3,004 in 1995 to 3,958 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Sussex County was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 3,958 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Sussex County, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.8% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 19.3% | 2024 21.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,118 | 2024 $53,197 |
The table uses 3.7% for 2025; the score uses 3.8% 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 Sussex County's history
1754
Sussex County was formed in 1754 from the southwestern end of Surry County. Wikipedia
1910
The county's largest recorded population was the 1910 Census count of 13,664. The 2020 Census counted 10,829, 79% of the peak. Census Bureau
1999
A flash flood in September 1999 did $4.4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A tornado in February 2016 did $2.6 million in property damage and killed three people. NOAA Storm Events Database
-
Since 1972
18 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Sussex County, 3 of them for flooding. FEMA
Sussex County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Sussex County, one scores higher.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensville County, VA | 90 | 26.2% | — |
| Sussex County, VA | 87 | 21.9% | 39.0% |
| Dinwiddie County, VA | 73 | 10.1% | — |
| Southampton County, VA | 52 | 12.7% | — |
| Prince George County, VA | 42 | 11.3% | — |
| Surry County, VA | 39 | 11.7% | 29.2% |
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: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Sussex County the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Sussex County's poverty rate was 21.9% in 2024, 10th 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, Sussex County ranks 17th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Sussex 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.
-
Virginia Legal Aid Society
Legal aid
-
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 Sussex 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.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Sussex County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.