In Webster County, West Virginia, benefit checks have brought in more money than paychecks since 2014
In 2024, 50 cents of every dollar of income here came from benefit checks, including Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and veterans' benefits. That was a larger share than across the country.
More distressed than 97% of U.S. counties.
What drives Webster County's score
In Webster County, late payments on loans weigh most: the score for late payments on loans is 93.5. People with a car or retail loan behind: 11.8%, August 2025, higher than in 95% of U.S. counties. Housing costs come next, at 93.0.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Webster 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.
Webster County does better than most counties on two measures: bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (62.2, 2025) and people without health insurance (5.8%, 2020 to 2024).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 93.5 of 100
Late payments
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind8.9% · August 202590th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind11.8% · August 2025top 5%
- People with a subprime credit score59.5% · second quarter of 2026top 5%
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- 93.0 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 rent31.6% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income27.2% · fiscal year 202791st percentile
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- 92.5 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year5.6% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202690th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working33.5% · 2020 to 202494th percentile
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- 81.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line24.4% · 2024top 5%
- Children below the poverty line32.9% · 202494th percentile
- People with a disability25.3% · 2020 to 2024top 5%
- People without health insurance5.8% · 2020 to 202429th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$41,687 · 2024top 5%
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- 53.5 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector38.0% · August 202591st percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people62.2 · 202515th 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.
Where the money in Webster 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 Webster County, 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Webster County
West Virginia
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Webster County, benefit checks have brought in more than pay since 2014
In Webster County, West Virginia, benefit checks' share of income doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 50.0%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Webster County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 27.3% in 2019 to 31.4% in 2020.
The share of households in Webster County getting SNAP food aid rose by more than half to 32.6%, the highest on the chart
Low on the chart: 19.6% in 2010. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Webster County, West Virginia.
How Webster County has changed
Webster County's population had its largest rise, from 10,436 in 1974 to 12,183 in 1979.
Webster County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1979 and has since fallen by about a third
High on the chart: 12,183 in 1979. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Webster County, West Virginia.
The number of jobs located in Webster County had its largest drop, from 1,998 in 2015 to 1,550 in 2020.
The number of jobs located in Webster County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and is down 39% since
High on the chart: 2,420 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Webster County, West Virginia.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 19.5% | 2025 6.0% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 31.8% | 2024 24.4% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $14,514 | 2024 $41,687 |
The table uses 6.0% for 2025; the score uses 5.6% 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 Webster County's history
1940
The county's largest recorded population was the 1940 Census count of 18,080. The 2020 Census counted 8,378, 46% of the peak. Census Bureau
2016
A flood in June 2016 did $5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flash flood in June 2016 did $4 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1980
23 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Webster County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Webster County beside its neighbors
Webster County scores higher than all seven counties that border it. Of the group, Webster County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (50.0%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Webster County, WV | 97 | 24.4% | 50.0% |
| Randolph County, WV | 77 | 17.3% | 36.8% |
| Nicholas County, WV | 75 | 16.4% | 40.3% |
| Lewis County, WV | 70 | 16.2% | 32.6% |
| Pocahontas County, WV | 67 | 17.4% | 43.6% |
| Upshur County, WV | 67 | 18.5% | 32.2% |
| Greenbrier County, WV | 65 | 16.2% | 38.5% |
| Braxton County, WV | 64 | 19.9% | 40.5% |
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 Webster County the poorest county in West Virginia?
No, Webster County's poverty rate was 24.4% in 2024, 5th highest of 55 in West Virginia (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is McDowell County, at 38.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Webster County ranks 1st of 55 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Webster 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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Legal Aid of West Virginia
Legal aid
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Mountain State Justice, Inc.
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 Webster 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 Webster County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.