Craig County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.7 | 4,843 people · 91st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Craig County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.7 — 2032nd 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 91st of 133 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Craig County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.8 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 7
Economic Vitality 62.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 74
Rent-to-Income Ratio 77
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Structural Poverty 53.1
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 40
Income vs. State Median 64
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Legal Distress 27.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27
Consumer Credit Distress 22.3
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Craig County
Craig County, VA 42.7 Normal —
Monroe County, WV 48.5 Normal +5.8
Alleghany County, VA 47.9 Normal +5.2
Montgomery County, VA 42.3 Normal -0.4
Giles County, VA 41.9 Normal -0.7
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy -8.1
Botetourt County, VA 20.9 Healthy -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Craig County
Surry County, VA 42.6 Normal -0.1
Ziebach County, SD 42.8 Normal +0.1
Yoakum County, TX 42.8 Normal +0.1
Sheridan County, MT 42.5 Normal -0.1
Wheeler County, OR 42.5 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Craig 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 Craig 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 Craig County, Virginia?

    Craig County has a County Distress Index score of 42.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,032nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 91st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Craig County?

    The primary driver of distress in Craig County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Craig County compare to neighboring counties?

    Craig County (42.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Monroe County, WV (48.5); Alleghany County, VA (47.9); Montgomery County, VA (42.3).

  • 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 Normal 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). Craig County's score of 42.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Craig 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 Craig County?

    Craig County, Virginia has a population of approximately 4,843 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.