Clarke County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.9 | 15,466 people · 117th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Clarke County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.9 — 2531st 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 117th of 133 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clarke County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.3 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 10
Economic Vitality 73.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 25
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Consumer Credit Distress 16.4
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 14
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 20
Uninsured Rate 28
Subprime Credit Population 14
Structural Poverty 11.8
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 11
Legal Distress 10.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clarke County
Clarke County, VA 33.9 Healthy —
Berkeley County, WV 57.9 Elevated +24.0
Warren County, VA 38.2 Normal +4.3
Frederick County, VA 37.4 Normal +3.5
Jefferson County, WV 36.8 Normal +2.9
Fauquier County, VA 28.9 Healthy -5.0
Loudoun County, VA 25.1 Healthy -8.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clarke County
Blanco County, TX 33.9 Healthy 0.0
Price County, WI 33.8 Healthy -0.0
Ravalli County, MT 34.0 Healthy +0.1
Knox County, ME 34.0 Healthy +0.1
Fulton County, OH 34.0 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clarke 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 Clarke 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 Clarke County, Virginia?

    Clarke County has a County Distress Index score of 33.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,531st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 117th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clarke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clarke County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Clarke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clarke County (33.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Berkeley County, WV (57.9); Warren County, VA (38.2); Frederick County, VA (37.4).

  • 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). Clarke County's score of 33.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Clarke 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 Clarke County?

    Clarke County, Virginia has a population of approximately 15,466 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.