Cumberland County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 56.7 | 9,878 people · 50th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Cumberland County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 56.7 — 1160th 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 50th 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. Cumberland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.5 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 63.4
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 90
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 59.0
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 83
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Economic Vitality 47.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 59
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Housing Cost Burden 33.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Cumberland County, VA 56.7 Elevated —
Buckingham County, VA 67.3 Serious +10.6
Prince Edward County, VA 66.7 Serious +9.9
Amelia County, VA 53.1 Elevated -3.6
Fluvanna County, VA 36.8 Normal -19.9
Powhatan County, VA 28.6 Healthy -28.1
Goochland County, VA 17.9 Healthy -38.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cumberland County
Pulaski County, IL 56.8 Elevated +0.0
Montmorency County, MI 56.8 Elevated +0.0
Cumberland County, KY 56.6 Elevated -0.1
Sedgwick County, CO 57.0 Elevated +0.3
Oscoda County, MI 57.0 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cumberland 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 Cumberland 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 Cumberland County, Virginia?

    Cumberland County has a County Distress Index score of 56.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,160th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cumberland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cumberland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cumberland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cumberland County (56.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Buckingham County, VA (67.3); Prince Edward County, VA (66.7); Amelia County, VA (53.1).

  • 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). Cumberland County's score of 56.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cumberland 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 Cumberland County?

    Cumberland County, Virginia has a population of approximately 9,878 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.