Kent County, Delaware

County Distress Index: Serious · 71.4 | 189,789 people · 1st most distressed in Delaware
American Default Research

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Kent County, DE shows significant household financial distress with a score of 71.4 — 338th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Delaware, it ranks 1st of 3 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kent County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.9 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 94
Homeownership Rate 66
Legal Distress 75.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 70.3
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 40
Subprime Credit Population 75
Economic Vitality 64.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Structural Poverty 55.4
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kent County
Kent County, DE 71.4 Serious —
Cumberland County, NJ 78.8 Serious +7.5
Salem County, NJ 64.8 Elevated -6.6
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated -7.3
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated -9.7
Sussex County, DE 48.0 Normal -23.3
Cape May County, NJ 47.3 Normal -24.1
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal -25.0
Queen Anne's County, MD 36.4 Normal -35.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kent County
Wayne County, NC 71.4 Serious 0.0
Ross County, OH 71.3 Serious -0.0
Lenoir County, NC 71.4 Serious +0.1
Lamar County, TX 71.1 Serious -0.3
Columbia County, FL 71.0 Serious -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kent County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kent County.

FIRST STATE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY, INC.
Dover
302-674-1355-114 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
NEIGHBORGOOD PARTNERS
Dover
302-678-9400 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Delaware →

Find an Attorney

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

Delaware State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 302-658-5279

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Kent County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Aid Society, Inc. (CLASI) 302-575-0660
Delaware Volunteer Legal Services (DVLS) 302-478-8680
Legal Services Corporation of Delaware 302-575-0408

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Delaware →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Kent County, Delaware?

    Kent County has a County Distress Index score of 71.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 338th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Delaware out of 3 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kent County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kent County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Kent County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kent County (71.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Cumberland County, NJ (78.8); Salem County, NJ (64.8); Caroline County, MD (64.1).

  • 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 Serious 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). Kent County's score of 71.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Kent 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 Kent County?

    Kent County, Delaware has a population of approximately 189,789 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.