Orange County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.9 | 38,574 people · 90th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Orange County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.9 — 2022nd 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 90th of 133 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Orange County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.6 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Economic Vitality 51.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Housing Cost Burden 47.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 30
Consumer Credit Distress 38.1
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 33
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 58
Structural Poverty 25.5
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal —
Spotsylvania County, VA 54.6 Elevated +11.8
Louisa County, VA 50.2 Elevated +7.4
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal +5.6
Greene County, VA 40.9 Normal -2.0
Albemarle County, VA 34.4 Healthy -8.5
Madison County, VA 26.4 Healthy -16.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Linn County, MO 42.9 Normal +0.0
Hampshire County, WV 42.9 Normal +0.0
Baker County, OR 42.9 Normal +0.0
Lincoln County, MT 42.8 Normal -0.0
Jasper County, IA 42.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Orange 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 Orange 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 Orange County, Virginia?

    Orange County has a County Distress Index score of 42.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,022nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 90th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orange County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orange County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Orange County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orange County (42.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Spotsylvania County, VA (54.6); Louisa County, VA (50.2); Culpeper County, VA (48.5).

  • 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 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). Orange County's score of 42.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Orange 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 Orange County?

    Orange County, Virginia has a population of approximately 38,574 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.