Northampton County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.6 | 12,021 people · 72nd most distressed in Virginia
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Northampton County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.6 — 1424th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Virginia, it ranks 72nd of 133 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Northampton County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 78.7 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 78.7
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 87
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Economic Vitality 56.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Consumer Credit Distress 51.4
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 26
Auto Loan Delinquency 75
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 37
Housing Cost Burden 42.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 84
Legal Distress 36.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Northampton County, VA 52.6 Elevated —
Norfolk city, VA 77.3 Serious +24.7
Hampton city, VA 77.1 Serious +24.5
Virginia Beach city, VA 55.5 Elevated +3.0
Accomack County, VA 53.0 Elevated +0.5
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal -6.9
York County, VA 38.2 Normal -14.4
Mathews County, VA 35.2 Normal -17.4
Poquoson city, VA 30.6 Healthy -22.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Northampton County
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated -0.0
Morgan County, GA 52.6 Elevated +0.1
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated +0.1
Tallapoosa County, AL 52.7 Elevated +0.1
Overton County, TN 52.4 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Northampton 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 Northampton 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 Northampton County, Virginia?

    Northampton County has a County Distress Index score of 52.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,424th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Northampton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Northampton County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 78.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Northampton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Northampton County (52.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Norfolk city, VA (77.3); Hampton city, VA (77.1); Virginia Beach city, VA (55.5).

  • 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). Northampton County's score of 52.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Northampton 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 Northampton County?

    Northampton County, Virginia has a population of approximately 12,021 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.