Louisa County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.2 | 41,037 people · 75th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Louisa County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.2 — 1563rd 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 75th of 133 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Louisa County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.4 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 62.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 14
Consumer Credit Distress 46.7
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 20
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 44
Economic Vitality 37.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 27
Business Formation Rate 31
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Structural Poverty 31.0
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 45
Transfer Income Dependency 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Louisa County
Louisa County, VA 50.2 Elevated —
Spotsylvania County, VA 54.6 Elevated +4.4
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal -7.4
Fluvanna County, VA 36.8 Normal -13.4
Albemarle County, VA 34.4 Healthy -15.8
Hanover County, VA 32.8 Healthy -17.4
Goochland County, VA 17.9 Healthy -32.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Louisa County
Andrews County, TX 50.3 Elevated +0.1
Sanders County, MT 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Calaveras County, CA 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Union County, OR 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Crawford County, MI 50.0 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Louisa 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 Louisa 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 Louisa County, Virginia?

    Louisa County has a County Distress Index score of 50.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,563rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Louisa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Louisa County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Louisa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Louisa County (50.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Spotsylvania County, VA (54.6); Orange County, VA (42.9); Fluvanna County, VA (36.8).

  • 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). Louisa County's score of 50.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Louisa 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 Louisa County?

    Louisa County, Virginia has a population of approximately 41,037 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.