Chester County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.3 | 549,784 people · 66th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Chester County, PA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.3 — 2834th 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 66th of 67 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chester County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 70.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 70.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 70
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 47
Economic Vitality 37.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 38
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Legal Distress 29.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Consumer Credit Distress 13.9
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 34
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 6
Structural Poverty 2.8
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Chester County, PA 28.3 Healthy —
New Castle County, DE 61.7 Elevated +33.3
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated +31.1
Cecil County, MD 56.3 Elevated +27.9
Delaware County, PA 55.2 Elevated +26.9
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal +14.2
Montgomery County, PA 32.5 Healthy +4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chester County
Douglas County, CO 28.6 Healthy +0.2
Warren County, OH 27.7 Healthy -0.6
Morris County, NJ 27.4 Healthy -0.9
Johnson County, KS 27.1 Healthy -1.3
San Mateo County, CA 29.7 Healthy +1.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chester County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Chester County.

HOUSING PARTNERSHIP OF CHESTER COUNTY
Downingtown
610-518-1522
Financial CounselingPre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-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 Chester 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 Chester County, Pennsylvania?

    Chester County has a County Distress Index score of 28.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,834th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 66th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chester County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 70.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Chester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chester County (28.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: New Castle County, DE (61.7); Berks County, PA (59.4); Cecil County, MD (56.3).

  • 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 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). Chester County's score of 28.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Chester 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 Chester County?

    Chester County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 549,784 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.