Virginia County Distress Index
Financial distress scores for all 133 counties in Virginia, scored 0–100 across five domains. Mean score: 52.6. 62counties are in the two most distressed fifths.
Data: Census, BLS, Urban Institute, HUD, US Courts | Scores as of 2026-03-26
Virginia Snapshot
133 Counties Scored
52.6 Mean Score
52.2 Median Score
92.8 Petersburg city Most Distressed
18.0 Arlington County Least Distressed
31 Most distressed fifth31 Second-most distressed fifth23 Middle fifth27 Second-least distressed fifth21 Least distressed fifth
Quintile Distribution Virginia County Map
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Least distressed fifth Second-least distressed fifth Middle fifth Second-most distressed fifth Most distressed fifth
All 133 Virginia counties colored by distress fifth. Hover for details; click released counties for full reports.
Most & Least Distressed
Most Distressed
Least Distressed
Score Distribution
How Virginia's 133 county scores are distributed across the 0–100 scale.
All Virginia Counties
133 counties ranked by distress score. Click column headers to sort.
| State Rank | Nat'l Rank | County | Score | Distress Fifth | Primary Driver |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | Petersburg city | 92.8 | Most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 2 | 17 | Hopewell city | 90.0 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 3 | 41 | Portsmouth city | 85.6 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 4 | 47 | Danville city | 85.1 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 5 | 50 | Martinsville city | 84.7 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 6 | 54 | Emporia city | 84.6 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 7 | 88 | Greensville County | 82.3 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 8 | 104 | Franklin city | 81.4 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 9 | 133 | Buchanan County | 80.3 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 10 | 150 | Lee County | 79.7 | Most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 11 | 165 | Norfolk city | 79.1 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 12 | 188 | Hampton city | 78.2 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 13 | 224 | Bristol city | 76.6 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 14 | 235 | Newport News city | 76.1 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 15 | 277 | Sussex County | 74.8 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 16 | 299 | Norton city | 74.3 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 17 | 302 | Halifax County | 74.3 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 18 | 304 | Richmond city | 74.1 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 19 | 371 | Brunswick County | 72.3 | Most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 20 | 379 | Tazewell County | 72.1 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 21 | 381 | Westmoreland County | 72.0 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 22 | 389 | Henry County | 71.8 | Most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 23 | 406 | Prince Edward County | 71.3 | Most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 24 | 453 | Roanoke city | 70.3 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 25 | 455 | Colonial Heights city | 70.3 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 26 | 506 | Covington city | 69.2 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 27 | 533 | Lynchburg city | 68.6 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 28 | 564 | Buckingham County | 68.2 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 29 | 574 | Essex County | 68.1 | Most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 30 | 584 | Wise County | 67.9 | Most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 31 | 618 | Charlotte County | 67.3 | Most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 32 | 656 | Mecklenburg County | 66.5 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 33 | 682 | Charles City County | 65.9 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 34 | 699 | Dickenson County | 65.6 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 35 | 706 | Smyth County | 65.5 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 36 | 707 | Fredericksburg city | 65.5 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 37 | 715 | Nottoway County | 65.3 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 38 | 717 | Scott County | 65.3 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 39 | 770 | Russell County | 64.3 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 40 | 792 | Richmond County | 64.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 41 | 810 | Dinwiddie County | 63.7 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 42 | 844 | Lunenburg County | 63.1 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 43 | 904 | Suffolk city | 62.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 44 | 923 | Radford city | 61.6 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 45 | 944 | Accomack County | 61.2 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 46 | 997 | Pittsylvania County | 60.4 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 47 | 1,075 | Waynesboro city | 59.1 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 48 | 1,087 | Amherst County | 59.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 49 | 1,096 | Carroll County | 58.8 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 50 | 1,104 | Williamsburg city | 58.6 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 51 | 1,140 | Galax city | 58.1 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 52 | 1,146 | Wythe County | 58.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 53 | 1,157 | Pulaski County | 57.8 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 54 | 1,167 | Buena Vista city | 57.6 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 55 | 1,178 | Winchester city | 57.4 | Second-most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 56 | 1,205 | Southampton County | 57.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 57 | 1,207 | Northumberland County | 57.0 | Second-most distressed fifth | Labor |
| 58 | 1,213 | Patrick County | 56.9 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 59 | 1,221 | Grayson County | 56.8 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 60 | 1,226 | King and Queen County | 56.7 | Second-most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 61 | 1,238 | Northampton County | 56.4 | Second-most distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 62 | 1,248 | Cumberland County | 56.3 | Second-most distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 63 | 1,269 | Page County | 55.9 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| 64 | 1,381 | Amelia County | 54.0 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 65 | 1,440 | Caroline County | 53.0 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 66 | 1,443 | Lancaster County | 53.0 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| 67 | 1,467 | Spotsylvania County | 52.2 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 68 | 1,494 | Staunton city | 51.8 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 69 | 1,512 | Henrico County | 51.5 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 70 | 1,521 | Chesapeake city | 51.4 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 71 | 1,531 | Harrisonburg city | 51.3 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 72 | 1,577 | Alleghany County | 50.4 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| 73 | 1,582 | Prince George County | 50.3 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 74 | 1,598 | Louisa County | 50.0 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 75 | 1,665 | Virginia Beach city | 48.8 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 76 | 1,688 | Craig County | 48.4 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 77 | 1,696 | Appomattox County | 48.2 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 78 | 1,702 | Manassas city | 48.1 | Middle fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 79 | 1,734 | Washington County | 47.7 | Middle fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 80 | 1,749 | Campbell County | 47.4 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 81 | 1,767 | Manassas Park city | 47.1 | Middle fifth | Delinquency |
| 82 | 1,787 | Surry County | 46.8 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 83 | 1,794 | Middlesex County | 46.6 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 84 | 1,819 | Giles County | 46.2 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 85 | 1,858 | Chesterfield County | 45.5 | Middle fifth | Default & Legal |
| 86 | 1,948 | Isle of Wight County | 43.9 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 87 | 1,959 | King William County | 43.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 88 | 2,022 | Salem city | 42.7 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 89 | 2,031 | Nelson County | 42.6 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 90 | 2,043 | Mathews County | 42.4 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 91 | 2,050 | Charlottesville city | 42.3 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 92 | 2,074 | Orange County | 41.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 93 | 2,105 | Franklin County | 41.2 | Second-least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 94 | 2,119 | Prince William County | 40.9 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 95 | 2,130 | Culpeper County | 40.6 | Second-least distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 96 | 2,132 | Gloucester County | 40.5 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 97 | 2,178 | Bland County | 39.9 | Second-least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 98 | 2,181 | Highland County | 39.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 99 | 2,183 | Lexington city | 39.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 100 | 2,185 | Shenandoah County | 39.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Labor |
| 101 | 2,205 | Greene County | 39.4 | Second-least distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 102 | 2,208 | Montgomery County | 39.4 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 103 | 2,235 | Bedford County | 38.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 104 | 2,263 | Stafford County | 38.2 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 105 | 2,281 | Alexandria city | 37.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 106 | 2,302 | King George County | 37.4 | Second-least distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 107 | 2,312 | Fluvanna County | 37.2 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 108 | 2,408 | Augusta County | 35.1 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 109 | 2,430 | Fairfax city | 34.6 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 110 | 2,439 | James City County | 34.5 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 111 | 2,451 | Frederick County | 34.3 | Second-least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 112 | 2,468 | Warren County | 33.8 | Second-least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 113 | 2,534 | York County | 32.3 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 114 | 2,567 | Clarke County | 31.6 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 115 | 2,632 | Roanoke County | 30.3 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 116 | 2,642 | Rappahannock County | 30.1 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
| 117 | 2,653 | New Kent County | 29.7 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 118 | 2,654 | Floyd County | 29.7 | Least distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 119 | 2,694 | Rockbridge County | 28.6 | Least distressed fifth | Safety Net & Buffer |
| 120 | 2,699 | Bath County | 28.4 | Least distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| 121 | 2,733 | Albemarle County | 27.6 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 122 | 2,754 | Rockingham County | 27.0 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 123 | 2,766 | Fauquier County | 26.7 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 124 | 2,770 | Hanover County | 26.6 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 125 | 2,814 | Powhatan County | 25.4 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 126 | 2,826 | Fairfax County | 24.9 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 127 | 2,858 | Madison County | 24.0 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 128 | 2,947 | Poquoson city | 21.4 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 129 | 2,953 | Falls Church city | 21.1 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
| 130 | 2,960 | Botetourt County | 20.9 | Least distressed fifth | Labor |
| 131 | 2,983 | Goochland County | 19.9 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| 132 | 2,995 | Loudoun County | 19.6 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| 133 | 3,023 | Arlington County | 18.0 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
How County Scores Work
Each county is scored 0–100 using five equal-weighted domains. Each domain averages its member indicators' county ranks, and the composite is the mean of those domain scores. Higher scores indicate greater household financial distress.
Most distressed fifth — 31 Virginia counties
Second-most distressed fifth — 31 Virginia counties
Middle fifth — 23 Virginia counties
Second-least distressed fifth — 27 Virginia counties
Least distressed fifth — 21 Virginia counties