Orange County, Vermont

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.2 | 29,943 people · 9th most distressed in Vermont
American Default Research

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Orange County, VT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.2 — 2572nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Vermont, it ranks 9th of 14 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Orange County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 64.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 64.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 79
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 64
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 12
Economic Vitality 62.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 78
Rent-to-Income Ratio 60
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Structural Poverty 31.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Consumer Credit Distress 17.9
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 4
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 24
Legal Distress 3.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Orange County, VT 33.2 Healthy —
Caledonia County, VT 39.6 Normal +6.4
Grafton County, NH 34.0 Healthy +0.8
Windsor County, VT 31.1 Healthy -2.1
Washington County, VT 27.5 Healthy -5.7
Addison County, VT 26.7 Healthy -6.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Moniteau County, MO 33.2 Healthy +0.0
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy -0.0
Fremont County, ID 33.3 Healthy +0.0
Clay County, SD 33.1 Healthy -0.1
Pierce County, WI 33.1 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Orange County has a County Distress Index score of 33.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,572nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Vermont out of 14 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orange County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orange County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 64.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Orange County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orange County (33.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Caledonia County, VT (39.6); Grafton County, NH (34.0); Windsor County, VT (31.1).

  • 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). Orange County's score of 33.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Orange 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 Orange County?

    Orange County, Vermont has a population of approximately 29,943 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.