Berks County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.4 | 432,821 people · 8th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Berks County, PA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.4 — 993rd 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 Pennsylvania, it ranks 8th of 67 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. Berks County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 80.1 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 80.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 66
Economic Vitality 71.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Consumer Credit Distress 56.4
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 59
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 55
Legal Distress 49.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Structural Poverty 33.4
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Berks County
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated —
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated +1.8
Schuylkill County, PA 51.2 Elevated -8.3
Lebanon County, PA 50.3 Elevated -9.1
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal -16.9
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy -26.9
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy -31.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Berks County
Greater Bridgeport Planning Region, CT 59.4 Elevated 0.0
Washoe County, NV 59.5 Elevated +0.1
St. Tammany Parish, LA 59.3 Elevated -0.1
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +0.4
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Berks County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Berks County.

BERKS COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
Reading
610-375-7866
Foreclosure PreventionHomeless/DisplacementRental Help
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF GREATER BERKS, INC.
Reading
610-372-8433 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Berks 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Pennsylvania →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Berks County, Pennsylvania?

    Berks County has a County Distress Index score of 59.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 993rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Berks County?

    The primary driver of distress in Berks County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 80.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Berks County compare to neighboring counties?

    Berks County (59.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lehigh County, PA (61.2); Schuylkill County, PA (51.2); Lebanon County, PA (50.3).

  • 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). Berks County's score of 59.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Berks 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 Berks County?

    Berks County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 432,821 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.