Virginia Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 133 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
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Virginia ranks #32 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 133 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does Virginia Compare to the National Average?
Virginia is above the national average on 2 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 9.8% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 4.6%, and total debt per capita at $77,060.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Virginia has risen 3.3pp and total household debt has grown 16.5%. The state shows a mixed distress picture across different debt categories.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Virginia
Movement since 2006
Since 2006, Virginia has climbed from the 43rd-most distressed jurisdiction to the 35th-most distressed, as of 2025 Q1. Its composite State Distress Index score rose from 29.3 to 41.4 over the same span.
Quarter-aligned back-series. Each quarter re-ranks all 51 jurisdictions on that quarter's own data, so a state's position here can sit several spots from the current reading above, which uses each input's latest value.
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 43.8 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories. Virginia's State Distress Index of 44.9 (moderate-low state distress) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, housing-basis debt burden, and labor.
Virginia vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Virginia vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Virginia (#32) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
| State | SDI Score | Score Label | Highest Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | 44.9 | moderate-low state distress | Default & Legal |
| Indiana | 50.1 | moderate state distress | Default & Legal |
| Missouri | 45.0 | moderate-low state distress | Default & Legal |
| Washington | 44.9 | moderate-low state distress | Labor |
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 6.6% | 9.8% | +3.3pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 3.9% | 4.6% | +0.7pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.68% | 0.65% | -0.0pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $66,140 | $77,060 | +16.5% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $4,000 | $4,770 | +19.3% | $4,350 |
Virginia Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Virginia primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure.
Virginia is a non-judicial foreclosure state. Nearly all residential foreclosures proceed by trustee's sale — the trustee named in your deed of trust can sell the property without court involvement. Judicial foreclosure exists but is rarely used.
Full Virginia foreclosure law guide →State-Level Divergence
National averages mask wide variation across states. Virginia's credit card delinquency of 9.8% falls below the national 12.4%, but other metrics tell a more nuanced story. With 2 of 5 tracked metrics above national averages and a Distress Index of 44.9 (moderate-low state distress), the pressure on Virginia households is real. The Household Debt by State roundup tracks all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Virginia on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Virginia's 133 counties average 52.5 — near the national county mean of 50.0.
Score Label Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petersburg city | 92.5 | extreme county distress | Default & Legal |
| Hopewell city | 89.3 | very high county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Martinsville city | 85.1 | very high county distress | Delinquency |
| Danville city | 85.0 | very high county distress | Delinquency |
| Emporia city | 84.1 | very high county distress | Labor |
Petersburg city ranks #3 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Score Label | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington County | 16.7 | very low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Falls Church city | 18.8 | very low county distress | Labor |
| Goochland County | 19.6 | very low county distress | Default & Legal |
| Botetourt County | 20.2 | low county distress | Default & Legal |
| Loudoun County | 20.3 | low county distress | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The gap between Virginia's most and least distressed counties is 75.8 points — Petersburg city (92.5, extreme county distress) vs. Arlington County (16.7, very low county distress). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 133 Virginia counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Virginia
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 14,375 mortgage complaints from Virginia since 2012 — 165.5 per 100,000 residents, above the national rate of 133.2 per 100K. Virginia ranks #9 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 771 | 944 | 799 | 725 | 659 | 743 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Virginia
The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts filing rate reports annual cases per resident. It does not identify household causes, motives, assets, income, or case outcomes. Virginia's filing rate exceeds the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Virginia
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 11.5% of Virginia residents have debt in collections — below the national rate of 13.9%. 15.7% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 35.3% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Virginia
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Virginia
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Virginia scores 46.5 out of 100 (Weak), ranking #30 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Virginia?
The credit card delinquency rate in Virginia is 9.8% as of Q4 2025, ranking #37 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 6.6% in 2019.
How does Virginia's household debt compare to the national average?
Virginia residents carry $77,060 in total debt per capita, above the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 16.5% since 2019. Virginia ranks #9 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Virginia?
Auto loan delinquency in Virginia stands at 4.6% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #27 nationally. The rate has risen from 3.9% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Virginia use?
Virginia primarily uses non-judicial foreclosure. This allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings, resulting in a faster process. See our full Virginia foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Virginia above or below the national average for financial distress?
Virginia scores 44.9 on the State Distress Index (moderate-low state distress), ranking #32 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 5.1 points below the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden on a housing basis, and labor. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 43.8 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 44% of their own quarterly histories.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Virginia?
The CFPB has received 14,375 mortgage complaints from Virginia since 2012, a rate of 165.5 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #9 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 133.2 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.4% of Virginia complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Virginia?
Virginia had 15,959 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 183.8 per 100,000 residents — above the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #19 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 60% and Chapter 13 for 39.5%. Filings changed +12.0% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Virginia have debt in collections?
11.5% of individuals in Virginia have debt in collections, below the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #29 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 15.7% of Virginia residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Virginia?
710,416 residents of Virginia receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 8.1% — below the national rate of 10.9%. This ranks #37 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -13.5% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 7.8%.
How strong is Virginia's financial safety net?
Virginia scores 46.5 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #30 of 51 jurisdictions (Weak). The score combines Medicaid coverage (15.4% enrollment rate, expansion state), SNAP enrollment (8.1%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (active), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 47.8.
Which Virginia counties have the highest financial distress?
Petersburg city is the most distressed county in Virginia with a County Distress Index score of 92.5 · extreme county distress, ranking #3 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Hopewell city (89.3 · very high county distress), Martinsville city (85.1 · very high county distress), Danville city (85.0 · very high county distress) round out the top distressed counties. Arlington County is the least distressed at 16.7 · very low county distress. See all 133 counties at /counties/virginia/.
How long can foreclosure take in Virginia?
Virginia uses non-judicial foreclosure, which allows lenders to foreclose without court proceedings. In Virginia, the bank can foreclose in roughly 45–90 days from first missed payment to sale — though individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs, and bankruptcy filings. Homeowners have a right to cure: Virginia has no statutory cure period — the cure right comes from your deed of t…. The homestead exemption is $5,000. Full details at /help/foreclosure/virginia/.
Where does Virginia rank for financial distress?
Virginia scores 44.9 on the State Distress Index (moderate-low state distress), ranking #32 of 51 jurisdictions. 2 of 5 key metrics exceed national averages. The highest SDI domain is Default & Legal. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #30 (Weak).
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Virginia Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.