Essex County, Vermont

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.4 | 6,010 people · 8th most distressed in Vermont
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Essex County, VT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.4 — 2455th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Vermont, it ranks 8th of 14 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Essex County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 72.1 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 72.1
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 93
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Economic Vitality 47.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Housing Cost Burden 44.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 7
Consumer Credit Distress 23.0
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 12
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 41
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Essex County
Essex County, VT 35.4 Normal —
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal +14.0
Orleans County, VT 40.9 Normal +5.5
Caledonia County, VT 39.6 Normal +4.2
Grafton County, NH 34.0 Healthy -1.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Essex County
Grand Isle County, VT 35.4 Normal +0.0
Major County, OK 35.4 Normal -0.0
Morris County, KS 35.5 Normal +0.1
Chase County, KS 35.3 Normal -0.1
Gilpin County, CO 35.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Essex County

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 Essex 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Essex County has a County Distress Index score of 35.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,455th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Vermont out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Essex County?

    The primary driver of distress in Essex County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 72.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Essex County compare to neighboring counties?

    Essex County (35.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Coos County, NH (49.4); Orleans County, VT (40.9); Caledonia County, VT (39.6).

  • 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). Essex County's score of 35.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Essex 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 Essex County?

    Essex County, Vermont has a population of approximately 6,010 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.