Brunswick County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.7 | 15,749 people · 30th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Brunswick County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.7 — 731st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Virginia, it ranks 30th of 133 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Brunswick County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.4 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Structural Poverty 82.3
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 88
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 84
Disability Rate 48
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Consumer Credit Distress 68.5
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 77
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 84
Housing Cost Burden 42.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 60
Economic Vitality 39.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 95

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Brunswick County
Brunswick County, VA 63.7 Elevated —
Northampton County, NC 75.4 Serious +11.7
Greensville County, VA 73.6 Serious +9.9
Warren County, NC 72.4 Serious +8.8
Nottoway County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Mecklenburg County, VA 61.9 Elevated -1.7
Dinwiddie County, VA 60.3 Elevated -3.3
Lunenburg County, VA 57.4 Elevated -6.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Brunswick County
Marion County, TN 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Marion County, AL 63.6 Elevated -0.0
Tippah County, MS 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Nottoway County, VA 63.7 Elevated +0.0
Beaufort County, NC 63.6 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Brunswick 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 Brunswick 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 Brunswick County, Virginia?

    Brunswick County has a County Distress Index score of 63.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 731st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Brunswick County?

    The primary driver of distress in Brunswick County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Brunswick County compare to neighboring counties?

    Brunswick County (63.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Northampton County, NC (75.4); Greensville County, VA (73.6); Warren County, NC (72.4).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Brunswick County's score of 63.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Brunswick 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 Brunswick County?

    Brunswick County, Virginia has a population of approximately 15,749 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.