Roanoke County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.6 | 97,026 people · 115th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Roanoke County, VA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.6 — 2501st 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 115th of 133 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Roanoke County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Economic Vitality 50.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Housing Cost Burden 48.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 40
Structural Poverty 23.7
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 55
Consumer Credit Distress 23.3
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 24
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Roanoke County
Roanoke County, VA 34.6 Healthy —
Roanoke city, VA 68.3 Serious +33.7
Salem city, VA 47.0 Normal +12.4
Craig County, VA 42.7 Normal +8.1
Montgomery County, VA 42.3 Normal +7.7
Bedford County, VA 38.6 Normal +4.0
Franklin County, VA 37.5 Normal +2.9
Floyd County, VA 29.9 Healthy -4.7
Botetourt County, VA 20.9 Healthy -13.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Roanoke County
Grand Traverse County, MI 34.6 Healthy +0.0
Rice County, MN 34.7 Healthy +0.1
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy -0.2
Albemarle County, VA 34.4 Healthy -0.2
Eagle County, CO 34.4 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Roanoke 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 Roanoke 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 Roanoke County, Virginia?

    Roanoke County has a County Distress Index score of 34.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,501st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 115th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Roanoke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Roanoke County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Roanoke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Roanoke County (34.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Roanoke city, VA (68.3); Salem city, VA (47.0); Craig County, VA (42.7).

  • 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). Roanoke County's score of 34.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Roanoke 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 Roanoke County?

    Roanoke County, Virginia has a population of approximately 97,026 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.