Bath County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.1 | 4,051 people · 123rd most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Bath County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.1 — 2750th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where household incomes are relatively strong and poverty rates are low. Within Virginia, it ranks 123rd of 133 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bath County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 37.4 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 37.4
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Economic Vitality 34.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Consumer Credit Distress 32.3
Debt in Collections 29
Medical Debt 21
Auto Loan Delinquency 62
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 47
Housing Cost Burden 22.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 45
Homeownership Rate 45
Legal Distress 21.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bath County
Bath County, VA 30.1 Healthy —
Greenbrier County, WV 54.6 Elevated +24.5
Alleghany County, VA 47.9 Normal +17.8
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal +9.7
Highland County, VA 38.3 Normal +8.2
Pocahontas County, WV 36.0 Normal +5.9
Rockbridge County, VA 32.5 Healthy +2.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bath County
Adams County, ND 30.1 Healthy -0.0
Franklin County, IA 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Lane County, KS 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Southeast Fairbanks Census Area, AK 30.2 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bath County

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 Bath 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bath County has a County Distress Index score of 30.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,750th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 123rd in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bath County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bath County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 37.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Bath County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bath County (30.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Greenbrier County, WV (54.6); Alleghany County, VA (47.9); Augusta County, VA (39.8).

  • 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). Bath County's score of 30.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Bath 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 Bath County?

    Bath County, Virginia has a population of approximately 4,051 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.