Washoe County, Nevada

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.5 | 498,022 people · 7th most distressed in Nevada
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Washoe County, NV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.5 — 990th 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 Nevada, it ranks 7th of 17 counties. Among its 13 neighboring counties, 10 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washoe County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 85.3 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 85.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 93
Economic Vitality 70.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 65
Legal Distress 67.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Consumer Credit Distress 54.8
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 52
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 49
Structural Poverty 21.9
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washoe County
Washoe County, NV 59.5 Elevated —
Lake County, OR 64.4 Elevated +5.0
Lyon County, NV 64.1 Elevated +4.6
Carson City, NV 61.7 Elevated +2.2
Storey County, NV 58.2 Elevated -1.2
Churchill County, NV 57.5 Elevated -1.9
Pershing County, NV 52.8 Elevated -6.7
Lassen County, CA 50.8 Elevated -8.7
Modoc County, CA 48.6 Normal -10.9
Harney County, OR 44.9 Normal -14.6
Humboldt County, NV 43.0 Normal -16.4
Nevada County, CA 41.9 Normal -17.6
Placer County, CA 37.4 Normal -22.1
Sierra County, CA 37.1 Normal -22.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washoe County
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT 59.4 Elevated -0.1
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated -0.1
St. Tammany Parish, LA 59.3 Elevated -0.2
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +0.4
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washoe County

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral and Information Service 702-382-0504

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Washoe County residents at no cost.

Nevada Legal Services 702-386-0404 (Las Vegas); 775-284-3491 (Reno)
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada 702-386-1070
Washoe Legal Services 775-329-2727
State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service 702-382-0504

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Washoe County, Nevada?

    Washoe County has a County Distress Index score of 59.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 990th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Nevada out of 17 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washoe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washoe County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 85.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Washoe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washoe County (59.5) can be compared to its 13 neighboring counties: Lake County, OR (64.4); Lyon County, NV (64.1); Carson City, NV (61.7).

  • 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). Washoe County's score of 59.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Washoe 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 Washoe County?

    Washoe County, Nevada has a population of approximately 498,022 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.