Bennington County, Vermont

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.0 | 37,183 people · 2nd most distressed in Vermont
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Bennington County, VT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.0 — 2014th 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 Vermont, it ranks 2nd of 14 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bennington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 88.0 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 88.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 43
Economic Vitality 59.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 37
Structural Poverty 42.6
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 31
Consumer Credit Distress 24.3
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 26
Legal Distress 8.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bennington County
Bennington County, VT 43.0 Normal —
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated +8.3
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +6.6
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal +5.5
Rensselaer County, NY 44.0 Normal +1.0
Rutland County, VT 43.3 Normal +0.2
Windham County, VT 37.0 Normal -6.0
Windsor County, VT 31.1 Healthy -12.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bennington County
Humboldt County, NV 43.0 Normal +0.0
Cassia County, ID 43.1 Normal +0.1
Gloucester County, VA 43.1 Normal +0.1
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal +0.1
Baker County, OR 42.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bennington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Bennington County.

BENNINGTON-RUTLAND OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL, INC.- VERMONT
Bennington
802-447-7515 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Vermont →

Find an Attorney

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

Vermont Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 802-223-2020

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Bennington County residents at no cost.

Vermont Legal Aid 1-800-889-2047
Legal Services Vermont (800) 889-2047

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 Vermont →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Bennington County, Vermont?

    Bennington County has a County Distress Index score of 43.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,014th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Vermont out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bennington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bennington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 88.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Bennington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bennington County (43.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Washington County, NY (51.3); Berkshire County, MA (49.6); Franklin County, MA (48.5).

  • 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). Bennington County's score of 43.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Bennington 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 Bennington County?

    Bennington County, Vermont has a population of approximately 37,183 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.