Bedford County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.7 | 47,350 people · 42nd most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Bedford County, PA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.7 — 2150th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks 42nd of 67 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bedford County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 54.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 54.7
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 48.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 63
Housing Cost Burden 47.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 29
Consumer Credit Distress 33.5
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 24
Legal Distress 30.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bedford County
Bedford County, PA 40.7 Normal —
Allegany County, MD 57.4 Elevated +16.6
Blair County, PA 50.2 Elevated +9.5
Cambria County, PA 48.8 Normal +8.1
Huntingdon County, PA 37.8 Normal -2.9
Somerset County, PA 35.9 Normal -4.8
Fulton County, PA 31.0 Healthy -9.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bedford County
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal -0.0
Susquehanna County, PA 40.7 Normal -0.0
Gaines County, TX 40.7 Normal -0.0
Edgar County, IL 40.7 Normal +0.0
Pacific County, WA 40.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bedford County

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 Bedford 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 Bedford County, Pennsylvania?

    Bedford County has a County Distress Index score of 40.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,150th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bedford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bedford County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 54.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Bedford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bedford County (40.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Allegany County, MD (57.4); Blair County, PA (50.2); Cambria County, PA (48.8).

  • 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 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). Bedford County's score of 40.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Bedford 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 Bedford County?

    Bedford County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 47,350 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.