About one in four people in Williamsburg city, Virginia, lives below the poverty line
In Williamsburg city, 23.3% of people lived below the poverty line. That is higher than in 94% of U.S. counties.
More distressed than 66% of U.S. counties.
What drives Williamsburg city's score
In Williamsburg city, housing costs weigh most: the score for housing costs is 94.2. About two in five renters (42.6%, 2020 to 2024) pay half their income or more in rent, a higher share than in 95% of U.S. counties. Jobs come next, at 58.9.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Williamsburg 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.
Williamsburg city does better than most counties on two measures: people with a disability (9.4%, 2020 to 2024) and people with unpaid debt sent to a collector (16.9%, August 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 94.2 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 rent42.6% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income28.0% · fiscal year 202793rd percentile
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- 58.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202686th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working17.7% · 2020 to 202431st percentile
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- 53.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector16.9% · August 202526th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people220.9 · 202579th percentile
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- 47.4 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line23.3% · 202494th percentile
- Children below the poverty line20.6% · 202466th percentile
- People with a disability9.4% · 2020 to 20245th or lower percentile
- People without health insurance6.2% · 2020 to 202433rd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$71,436 · 202437th percentile
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- 44.2 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind4.3% · August 202530th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.2% · August 202564th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.2% · second quarter of 202638th 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 Williamsburg city has changed
The number of jobs located in Williamsburg city had its largest drop, from 16,624 in 2005 to 14,197 in 2010.
The number of jobs located in Williamsburg city was at its highest on the chart in 2000 and has since fallen by about a third
High on the chart: 18,725 in 2000. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Williamsburg city, Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 8.9% | 2025 4.9% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.2% | 2024 23.3% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1993 $29,512 | 2024 $71,436 |
The table uses 4.9% for 2025; the score uses 5.4% 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 Williamsburg city's history
2020
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 15,425, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
2022
A thunderstorm in August 2022 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1972
16 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Williamsburg city, 1 of them for flooding. FEMA
Williamsburg city beside its neighbors
Williamsburg city scores higher than all two counties that border it.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Williamsburg city, VA | 66 | 23.3% | — |
| James City County, VA | 18 | 6.4% | — |
| York County, VA | 13 | 5.3% | — |
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 Williamsburg city the poorest county in Virginia?
No, Williamsburg city's poverty rate was 23.3% in 2024, 6th 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, Williamsburg city ranks 47th of 133 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Williamsburg 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 Williamsburg 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.