Washington County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.2 | 25,602 people · 35th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Washington County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.2 — 637th 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 35th of 67 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less 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 Structural Poverty at 82.5 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 82.5
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 84
Consumer Credit Distress 74.5
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 76
Housing Cost Burden 53.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 20
Economic Vitality 51.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 11
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Legal Distress 24.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, FL 65.2 Serious —
Jackson County, FL 76.3 Serious +11.2
Bay County, FL 64.7 Elevated -0.5
Holmes County, FL 62.8 Elevated -2.3
Walton County, FL 52.5 Elevated -12.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Fredericksburg city, VA 65.2 Serious +0.0
Radford city, VA 65.2 Serious +0.0
Rockcastle County, KY 65.1 Serious -0.1
Stone County, MS 65.3 Serious +0.1
Haskell County, OK 65.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Washington County.

UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - WASHINGTON COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Chipley
850-638-6265 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Washington 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 Washington County, Florida?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 65.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 637th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 82.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (65.2) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Jackson County, FL (76.3); Bay County, FL (64.7); Holmes County, FL (62.8).

  • 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). Washington County's score of 65.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • 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, Florida has a population of approximately 25,602 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.