Franklin County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.5 | 55,549 people · 108th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Franklin County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.5 — 2339th 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 108th 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. Franklin County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 72.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 72.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Structural Poverty 44.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Consumer Credit Distress 37.5
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 38
Economic Vitality 37.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 23
Housing Cost Burden 21.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, VA 37.5 Normal —
Henry County, VA 64.4 Elevated +26.8
Pittsylvania County, VA 54.7 Elevated +17.2
Patrick County, VA 51.6 Elevated +14.0
Bedford County, VA 38.6 Normal +1.1
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy -2.9
Floyd County, VA 29.9 Healthy -7.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Kauai County, HI 37.5 Normal -0.0
Ward County, ND 37.5 Normal +0.0
Adams County, PA 37.5 Normal -0.1
Frederick County, VA 37.4 Normal -0.1
El Dorado County, CA 37.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Virginia?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 37.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,339th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 108th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 72.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (37.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henry County, VA (64.4); Pittsylvania County, VA (54.7); Patrick County, VA (51.6).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 37.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Virginia has a population of approximately 55,549 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.