Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.6 | 1,224,825 people · 41st most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Pittsburgh's reinvention story is well-documented. Steel to eds and meds, population decline to stabilization, Rust Belt to tech hub. The data partially confirms it. Allegheny County scores 35.2, Normal, with the highest wage-to-rent ratio in this batch at 5.02. Medical debt registers at just 1.2%. Uninsured rate is 3.9%. The healthcare economy isn't just employing people. It's insuring them. The residual stress shows up in two places. Disability runs at 13.8%, reflecting an older population shaped by decades of physical labor in industries that have since left. Child poverty is 15.2% in a county where overall poverty is 11.6%. The gap between adult and child poverty rates points to households where the wage earner is getting by but the family budget isn't stretching far enough. Allegheny ranks 58th of 67 Pennsylvania counties, meaning only 9 score lower. Among its neighbors, Beaver County hits 44.2, Armstrong 43.1. The reinvention brought Pittsburgh to Normal, not Healthy. The 36.6-point gap between Oakland County, MI (28.5) and Wayne County (65.1) next door has no equivalent here. Pittsburgh's challenge is more diffuse, more embedded in the demographics of who stayed.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Allegheny County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 68.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 68.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 85
Legal Distress 58.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Consumer Credit Distress 33.6
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 35
Structural Poverty 26.1
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 14
Economic Vitality 26.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Allegheny County
Allegheny County, PA 41.6 Normal —
Beaver County, PA 46.5 Normal +5.0
Westmoreland County, PA 38.1 Normal -3.5
Armstrong County, PA 38.0 Normal -3.6
Washington County, PA 36.2 Normal -5.4
Butler County, PA 28.5 Healthy -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Allegheny County
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal -1.2
Montgomery County, MD 40.3 Normal -1.3
Contra Costa County, CA 43.4 Normal +1.8
Wake County, NC 43.4 Normal +1.8
Suffolk County, NY 43.9 Normal +2.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Allegheny County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Allegheny County.

ADVANTAGE CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE
Pittsburgh
888-511-2227
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseReverse Mortgage
CREDIT.ORG - PITTSBURGH, PA BRANCH
Pittsburgh
412-790-5697 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
MON VALLEY INITIATIVE
HOMESTEAD
412-464-4000-4026 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help
Neighborhood Housing Services, DBA NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania
Penn Hills
412-281-9773 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help
URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER PITTSBURGH
Pittsburgh
412-227-4163 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase

See all counselors in Pennsylvania →

Find an Attorney

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

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Allegheny County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

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 Allegheny County, Pennsylvania?

    Allegheny County has a County Distress Index score of 41.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,087th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Allegheny County?

    The primary driver of distress in Allegheny County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 68.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Allegheny County compare to neighboring counties?

    Allegheny County (41.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Beaver County, PA (46.5); Westmoreland County, PA (38.1); Armstrong County, PA (38.0).

  • 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 Normal 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). Allegheny County's score of 41.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Allegheny 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 Allegheny County?

    Allegheny County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 1,224,825 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.