King and Queen County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.2 | 6,720 people · 56th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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King and Queen County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.2 — 1258th 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 56th of 133 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. King and Queen County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.2 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Consumer Credit Distress 63.8
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 83
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 55
Economic Vitality 54.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 63
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Structural Poverty 44.4
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Housing Cost Burden 34.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. King and Queen County
King and Queen County, VA 55.2 Elevated —
Essex County, VA 69.0 Serious +13.8
Caroline County, VA 55.2 Elevated -0.0
King William County, VA 49.3 Normal -5.9
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal -9.5
Gloucester County, VA 43.1 Normal -12.1
James City County, VA 39.9 Normal -15.3
New Kent County, VA 36.5 Normal -18.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. King and Queen County
Kinney County, TX 55.1 Elevated -0.1
Northwest Arctic Borough, AK 55.5 Elevated +0.3
Wheeler County, TX 54.9 Elevated -0.3
Hidalgo County, NM 55.5 Elevated +0.3
Kenedy County, TX 55.5 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for King and Queen County as a CSV file.

Find Help in King and Queen 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 King and Queen 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 King and Queen County, Virginia?

    King and Queen County has a County Distress Index score of 55.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,258th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 56th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in King and Queen County?

    The primary driver of distress in King and Queen County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does King and Queen County compare to neighboring counties?

    King and Queen County (55.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Essex County, VA (69.0); Caroline County, VA (55.2); King William County, VA (49.3).

  • 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 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). King and Queen County's score of 55.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power King and Queen County's CDI score?

    King and Queen 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 King and Queen County?

    King and Queen County, Virginia has a population of approximately 6,720 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.