Shenandoah County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.6 | 45,228 people · 99th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Shenandoah County, VA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.6 — 2157th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Virginia, it ranks 99th of 133 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Shenandoah County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 55.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 55.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Housing Cost Burden 48.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 60
Economic Vitality 45.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Consumer Credit Distress 36.3
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 50
Structural Poverty 31.9
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Shenandoah County
Shenandoah County, VA 40.6 Normal —
Page County, VA 53.3 Elevated +12.7
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +8.9
Warren County, VA 38.2 Normal -2.4
Frederick County, VA 37.4 Normal -3.2
Rockingham County, VA 32.2 Healthy -8.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Shenandoah County
Yancey County, NC 40.5 Normal -0.0
Wetzel County, WV 40.5 Normal -0.1
Fayette County, IL 40.7 Normal +0.1
Susquehanna County, PA 40.7 Normal +0.1
Gaines County, TX 40.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah County, Virginia?

    Shenandoah County has a County Distress Index score of 40.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,157th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 99th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Shenandoah County?

    The primary driver of distress in Shenandoah County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 55.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Shenandoah County compare to neighboring counties?

    Shenandoah County (40.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Page County, VA (53.3); Hardy County, WV (49.5); Warren County, VA (38.2).

  • 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). Shenandoah County's score of 40.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Shenandoah 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 Shenandoah County?

    Shenandoah County, Virginia has a population of approximately 45,228 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.