Gloucester County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.1 | 40,057 people · 88th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Gloucester County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.1 — 2005th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Virginia, it ranks 88th of 133 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gloucester County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 83.3 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 83.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Legal Distress 61.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Consumer Credit Distress 39.6
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 43
Housing Cost Burden 38.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 20
Structural Poverty 26.0
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 15
Disability Rate 62
Transfer Income Dependency 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gloucester County
Gloucester County, VA 43.1 Normal —
King and Queen County, VA 55.2 Elevated +12.1
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal +2.6
James City County, VA 39.9 Normal -3.3
York County, VA 38.2 Normal -5.0
Mathews County, VA 35.2 Normal -8.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gloucester County
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal +0.0
Cassia County, ID 43.1 Normal -0.1
Humboldt County, NV 43.0 Normal -0.1
Iosco County, MI 43.2 Normal +0.1
Bennington County, VT 43.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gloucester 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 Gloucester 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

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Gloucester County, Virginia?

    Gloucester County has a County Distress Index score of 43.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,005th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 88th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gloucester County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gloucester County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 83.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Gloucester County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gloucester County (43.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: King and Queen County, VA (55.2); Middlesex County, VA (45.7); James City County, VA (39.9).

  • 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). Gloucester County's score of 43.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gloucester 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 Gloucester County?

    Gloucester County, Virginia has a population of approximately 40,057 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.