Citrus County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.4 | 166,696 people · 31st most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Citrus County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.4 — 580th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Florida, it ranks 31st of 67 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Citrus County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 84.3 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 84.3
Unemployment Rate 96
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 94
Housing Cost Burden 72.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 4
Economic Vitality 72.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 81
Consumer Credit Distress 59.2
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 62
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 44
Legal Distress 53.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Citrus County
Citrus County, FL 66.4 Serious —
Marion County, FL 71.9 Serious +5.5
Hernando County, FL 70.1 Serious +3.7
Levy County, FL 63.9 Elevated -2.5
Sumter County, FL 42.2 Normal -24.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Citrus County
Klamath County, OR 66.4 Serious -0.0
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious -0.1
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious -0.1
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious -0.1
Buchanan County, MO 66.3 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Citrus County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Citrus County.

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES OF MID-FLORIDA, INC. - INVERNESS OFFICE
Inverness
386-255-6573 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - CITRUS COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
LECANTO
352-527-5700 Website
Financial CounselingHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Florida →

Find an Attorney

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-8011

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Citrus County residents at no cost.

Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) 1-239-334-4554
Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGMI) 1-305-576-0080
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida 1-954-736-2400
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) 1-800-405-1417
Bay Area Legal Services 1-800-625-2257
Legal Services of North Florida 1-850-385-9007
Three Rivers Legal Services 1-866-256-8091

Self-Help Resources

The Florida Bar — Foreclosure Crisis Help for Consumers Official Florida Bar resource page for homeowners facing foreclosure, including information on finding an attorney, legal aid referrals, and understanding the foreclosure process.
Florida Courts — Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases Florida Supreme Court page with information on residential mortgage foreclosure cases, including links to administrative orders, mediation resources, and the Managed Mediation program.
Florida AG — Resources Available to Distressed Homeowners Florida Attorney General's office page with resources for distressed homeowners, including information on mortgage fraud, foreclosure rescue scams, and how to file complaints.
Florida LawHelp Statewide legal aid directory connecting Floridians with free legal information and local legal aid providers for foreclosure prevention and other civil legal needs.

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 Florida →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Citrus County, Florida?

    Citrus County has a County Distress Index score of 66.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 580th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Citrus County?

    The primary driver of distress in Citrus County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 84.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Citrus County compare to neighboring counties?

    Citrus County (66.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Marion County, FL (71.9); Hernando County, FL (70.1); Levy County, FL (63.9).

  • 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). Citrus County's score of 66.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Citrus 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 Citrus County?

    Citrus County, Florida has a population of approximately 166,696 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.