Pulaski County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.6 | 33,655 people · 53rd most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Pulaski County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.6 — 1232nd 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 53rd of 133 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pulaski County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 70.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 70.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Structural Poverty 68.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Housing Cost Burden 57.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 61
Consumer Credit Distress 53.4
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 74
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 61
Economic Vitality 30.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Pulaski County, VA 55.6 Elevated —
Radford city, VA 65.2 Serious +9.6
Wythe County, VA 59.8 Elevated +4.2
Carroll County, VA 53.6 Elevated -2.0
Montgomery County, VA 42.3 Normal -13.3
Giles County, VA 41.9 Normal -13.6
Bland County, VA 36.2 Normal -19.4
Floyd County, VA 29.9 Healthy -25.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Harrison County, OH 55.6 Elevated 0.0
Habersham County, GA 55.6 Elevated +0.0
McClain County, OK 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Moore County, TX 55.6 Elevated +0.0
Hancock County, MS 55.5 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pulaski County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Pulaski County.

NEW RIVER COMMUNITY ACTION (PULASKI COUNTY)
PULASKI
540-980-5525 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Lease/Pre-Purchase

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 Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Virginia?

    Pulaski County has a County Distress Index score of 55.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,232nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pulaski County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pulaski County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 70.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pulaski County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pulaski County (55.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Radford city, VA (65.2); Wythe County, VA (59.8); Carroll County, VA (53.6).

  • 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). Pulaski County's score of 55.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

    Pulaski County, Virginia has a population of approximately 33,655 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.