Botetourt County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.9 | 34,125 people · 132nd most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Botetourt County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.9 — 3054th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Virginia, it ranks 132nd 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. Botetourt County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 46.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 46.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 47
Economic Vitality 44.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Consumer Credit Distress 16.8
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 21
Housing Cost Burden 15.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 12
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 1
Structural Poverty 13.2
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 4
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Botetourt County
Botetourt County, VA 20.9 Healthy —
Alleghany County, VA 47.9 Normal +27.0
Craig County, VA 42.7 Normal +21.8
Bedford County, VA 38.6 Normal +17.7
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy +13.7
Rockbridge County, VA 32.5 Healthy +11.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Botetourt County
Saunders County, NE 20.8 Healthy -0.0
Pottawatomie County, KS 21.0 Healthy +0.2
Woodford County, IL 21.1 Healthy +0.2
Summit County, UT 20.6 Healthy -0.3
Blaine County, ID 20.5 Healthy -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Botetourt 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 Botetourt 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 Botetourt County, Virginia?

    Botetourt County has a County Distress Index score of 20.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,054th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 132nd in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Botetourt County?

    The primary driver of distress in Botetourt County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 46.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Botetourt County compare to neighboring counties?

    Botetourt County (20.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Alleghany County, VA (47.9); Craig County, VA (42.7); Bedford County, VA (38.6).

  • 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). Botetourt County's score of 20.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Botetourt 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 Botetourt County?

    Botetourt County, Virginia has a population of approximately 34,125 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.