Bucks County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.7 | 645,984 people · 58th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Bucks County, PA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.7 — 2491st 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 58th of 67 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bucks County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 75.5 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 75.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 29
Economic Vitality 60.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Legal Distress 29.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Consumer Credit Distress 19.0
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 20
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 14
Structural Poverty 8.2
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bucks County
Bucks County, PA 34.7 Healthy —
Philadelphia County, PA 73.5 Serious +38.8
Lehigh County, PA 61.2 Elevated +26.5
Mercer County, NJ 55.4 Elevated +20.7
Northampton County, PA 53.0 Elevated +18.3
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal +14.7
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal +9.1
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy -2.2
Hunterdon County, NJ 26.3 Healthy -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bucks County
Dane County, WI 35.0 Healthy +0.3
Howard County, MD 34.2 Healthy -0.5
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy -0.5
Norfolk County, MA 35.3 Normal +0.6
Boulder County, CO 34.0 Healthy -0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bucks County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Bucks County.

BUCKS COUNTY HOUSING GROUP
Warminster
215-394-8259
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement
CREDIT COUNSELING CENTER
Levittown
215-348-8003 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase
CREDIT COUNSELING CENTER
Richboro
215-348-8003
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Bucks 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 Bucks County, Pennsylvania?

    Bucks County has a County Distress Index score of 34.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,491st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bucks County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bucks County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 75.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Bucks County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bucks County (34.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Philadelphia County, PA (73.5); Lehigh County, PA (61.2); Mercer County, NJ (55.4).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Bucks County's score of 34.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Bucks 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 Bucks County?

    Bucks County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 645,984 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.