Lancaster County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.8 | 10,859 people · 82nd most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Lancaster County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.8 — 1857th 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 82nd of 133 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lancaster County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.9 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Structural Poverty 51.4
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 39
Housing Cost Burden 49.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 79
Homeownership Rate 20
Consumer Credit Distress 38.5
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 17
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 34
Economic Vitality 38.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 60

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
Lancaster County, VA 45.8 Normal —
Essex County, VA 69.0 Serious +23.2
Richmond County, VA 54.5 Elevated +8.7
Accomack County, VA 53.0 Elevated +7.2
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal -0.1
Northumberland County, VA 42.0 Normal -3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
Adams County, NE 45.9 Normal +0.1
Pine County, MN 45.7 Normal -0.1
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal -0.1
Gladwin County, MI 46.0 Normal +0.2
Barton County, KS 45.6 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lancaster 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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, Virginia?

    Lancaster County has a County Distress Index score of 45.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,857th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 82nd in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lancaster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lancaster County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lancaster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lancaster County (45.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Essex County, VA (69.0); Richmond County, VA (54.5); Accomack County, VA (53.0).

  • 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). Lancaster County's score of 45.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lancaster 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 Lancaster County?

    Lancaster County, Virginia has a population of approximately 10,859 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.