Jefferson County, Oregon

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.0 | 25,454 people · 5th most distressed in Oregon
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Jefferson County, OR registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.0 — 1076th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Oregon, it ranks 5th of 36 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jefferson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.1 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Structural Poverty 67.9
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Housing Cost Burden 67.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 65
Economic Vitality 54.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Consumer Credit Distress 46.9
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 50
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 54

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, OR 58.0 Elevated —
Marion County, OR 58.3 Elevated +0.3
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated -2.1
Wasco County, OR 51.6 Elevated -6.4
Crook County, OR 44.0 Normal -14.0
Wheeler County, OR 42.5 Normal -15.5
Deschutes County, OR 40.3 Normal -17.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Pettis County, MO 58.0 Elevated -0.0
Bourbon County, KS 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Abbeville County, SC 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.1
Lewis County, WV 57.9 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Jefferson County.

NEIGHBORIMPACT - MADRAS HOUSING CENTER
MADRAS
541-323-6567 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Oregon →

Find an Attorney

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

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 503-684-3763 (Portland); 1-800-452-7636 (statewide)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Jefferson County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon 503-684-1032 (Portland); 1-800-684-1032 (statewide hotline)
Oregon Law Center 541-672-3429 (Roseburg); 541-485-1017 (Eugene)
Willamette Law Online — Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Project 503-370-6051

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 Oregon →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Jefferson County, Oregon?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 58.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,076th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Oregon out of 36 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (58.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, OR (58.3); Linn County, OR (55.9); Wasco County, OR (51.6).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 58.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Oregon has a population of approximately 25,454 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.