Washington County, Alabama

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.5 | 15,022 people · 53rd most distressed in Alabama
American Default Research

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Washington County, AL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.5 — 1172nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Alabama, it ranks 53rd of 67 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washington County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.8 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 80.4
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 83
Credit Card Delinquency 77
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 92
Structural Poverty 55.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 81
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 28.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Housing Cost Burden 5.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 6
Homeownership Rate 5

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, AL 56.5 Elevated —
Mobile County, AL 76.2 Serious +19.7
Wayne County, MS 75.9 Serious +19.3
Choctaw County, AL 66.2 Serious +9.6
Clarke County, AL 63.3 Elevated +6.7
Greene County, MS 60.9 Elevated +4.4
Baldwin County, AL 52.8 Elevated -3.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Grayson County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.0
Washington County, KY 56.6 Elevated +0.0
Calloway County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.0
Cherokee County, AL 56.6 Elevated +0.1
Anderson County, KY 56.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Washington County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Washington County

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Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Washington County residents at no cost.

Legal Services Alabama 1-866-456-4995
Alabama State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-392-5660

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Washington County, Alabama?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 56.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,172nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Alabama out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (56.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mobile County, AL (76.2); Wayne County, MS (75.9); Choctaw County, AL (66.2).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). Each county's indicators are ranked against all 3,144 U.S. counties. A score of 50 means the county is at the national median; higher scores indicate greater distress.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Elevated zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Washington County's score of 56.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Washington County's CDI score?

    Washington County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Washington County?

    Washington County, Alabama has a population of approximately 15,022 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.