Albemarle County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.4 | 115,676 people · 116th most distressed in Virginia
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Albemarle County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.4 — 2506th 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 Virginia, it ranks 116th of 133 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 8 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Albemarle County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 82
Economic Vitality 60.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 38
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Legal Distress 29.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Structural Poverty 18.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 3
Child Poverty Rate 7
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 55
Consumer Credit Distress 14.7
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 4
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 9

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Albemarle County
Albemarle County, VA 34.4 Healthy —
Buckingham County, VA 67.3 Serious +32.9
Louisa County, VA 50.2 Elevated +15.8
Charlottesville city, VA 48.4 Normal +14.0
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal +8.5
Greene County, VA 40.9 Normal +6.5
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal +5.4
Nelson County, VA 36.8 Normal +2.4
Fluvanna County, VA 36.8 Normal +2.4
Rockingham County, VA 32.2 Healthy -2.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Albemarle County
Eagle County, CO 34.4 Healthy -0.0
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy +0.0
Putnam County, NY 34.3 Healthy -0.1
Island County, WA 34.3 Healthy -0.1
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Albemarle County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Albemarle County.

PIEDMONT HOUSING ALLIANCE
Charlottesville
434-817-2436 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Virginia →

Find an Attorney

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

Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-552-7977

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Albemarle County residents at no cost.

Virginia Legal Aid Society 540-342-3900
Legal Aid Justice Center 434-977-0553
Legal Services of Northern Virginia 703-778-6800
Virginia Poverty Law Center 804-782-9430
Central Virginia Legal Aid Society 804-648-1012
Blue Ridge Legal Services, Inc. (866) 534-5243
Legal Aid Society of Eastern Virginia (757) 827-5078
Southwest Virginia Legal Aid Society, Inc. (888) 201-2772

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 Virginia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Albemarle County, Virginia?

    Albemarle County has a County Distress Index score of 34.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,506th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 116th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Albemarle County?

    The primary driver of distress in Albemarle County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Albemarle County compare to neighboring counties?

    Albemarle County (34.4) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Buckingham County, VA (67.3); Louisa County, VA (50.2); Charlottesville city, VA (48.4).

  • 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). Albemarle County's score of 34.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Albemarle 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 Albemarle County?

    Albemarle County, Virginia has a population of approximately 115,676 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.