Arlington County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.5 | 234,162 people · 131st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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

Arlington County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.5 — 3001st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Virginia, it ranks 131st of 133 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Arlington County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 63.2 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 63.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 99
Economic Vitality 27.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Legal Distress 12.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12
Consumer Credit Distress 11.0
Debt in Collections 3
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 4
Structural Poverty 5.4
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Arlington County
Arlington County, VA 23.5 Healthy —
District of Columbia, DC 53.5 Elevated +30.0
Alexandria city, VA 43.9 Normal +20.5
Montgomery County, MD 40.3 Normal +16.9
Fairfax County, VA 30.0 Healthy +6.6
Falls Church city, VA 26.7 Healthy +3.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Arlington County
Dallas County, IA 24.2 Healthy +0.7
St. Croix County, WI 24.3 Healthy +0.9
Geauga County, OH 22.4 Healthy -1.0
Carver County, MN 22.0 Healthy -1.5
Outagamie County, WI 25.2 Healthy +1.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Arlington County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Arlington County.

LATINO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION - BRANCH
Arlington
703-527-3854 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Arlington 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Arlington County has a County Distress Index score of 23.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,001st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 131st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Arlington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Arlington County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 63.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Arlington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Arlington County (23.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: District of Columbia, DC (53.5); Alexandria city, VA (43.9); Montgomery County, MD (40.3).

  • 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). Arlington County's score of 23.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Arlington 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 Arlington County?

    Arlington County, Virginia has a population of approximately 234,162 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.