Falls Church city, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.7 | 14,685 people · 128th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Falls Church city, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.7 — 2906th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Virginia, it ranks 128th of 133 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 2 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Falls Church city's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 56.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 56.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 95
Economic Vitality 47.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 6
Legal Distress 22.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22
Structural Poverty 21.9
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 5
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 55
Consumer Credit Distress 10.7
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Falls Church city
Falls Church city, VA 26.7 Healthy —
Fairfax County, VA 30.0 Healthy +3.3
Arlington County, VA 23.5 Healthy -3.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Falls Church city
Jackson County, IA 26.7 Healthy -0.0
Addison County, VT 26.7 Healthy +0.0
Allamakee County, IA 26.7 Healthy -0.0
Vernon County, WI 26.9 Healthy +0.1
Franklin County, ID 26.9 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Falls Church city as a CSV file.

Find Help in Falls Church city

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 Falls Church city 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 Falls Church city, Virginia?

    Falls Church city has a County Distress Index score of 26.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,906th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 128th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Falls Church city?

    The primary driver of distress in Falls Church city is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 56.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Falls Church city compare to neighboring counties?

    Falls Church city (26.7) can be compared to its 2 neighboring counties: Fairfax County, VA (30.0); Arlington County, VA (23.5).

  • 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). Falls Church city's score of 26.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Falls Church city's CDI score?

    Falls Church city'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 Falls Church city?

    Falls Church city, Virginia has a population of approximately 14,685 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.