Madison County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.4 | 14,128 people · 129th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Madison County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.4 — 2916th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Virginia, it ranks 129th of 133 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Madison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 47.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 47.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 47
Economic Vitality 42.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 55
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Housing Cost Burden 30.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 21
Structural Poverty 22.7
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 23
Consumer Credit Distress 19.5
Debt in Collections 10
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, VA 26.4 Healthy —
Page County, VA 53.3 Elevated +26.9
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal +22.1
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal +16.5
Greene County, VA 40.9 Normal +14.5
Rappahannock County, VA 31.3 Healthy +4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy +0.0
Elbert County, CO 26.4 Healthy +0.0
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy -0.1
Spencer County, IN 26.5 Healthy +0.2
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Madison County.

SKYLINE COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP, INC.
Madison
540-948-3916 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

See all counselors in Virginia →

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 Madison 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Virginia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 26.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,916th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 129th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 47.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (26.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Page County, VA (53.3); Culpeper County, VA (48.5); Orange County, VA (42.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Madison County's score of 26.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Virginia has a population of approximately 14,128 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.