Spotsylvania County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.6 | 149,588 people · 61st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Spotsylvania County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.6 — 1297th 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 61st 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. Spotsylvania County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.1 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Economic Vitality 77.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 78
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 80
Housing Cost Burden 76.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 85
Homeownership Rate 21
Consumer Credit Distress 45.6
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 55
Structural Poverty 19.8
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 3
Income vs. State Median 1
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 7
Transfer Income Dependency 55

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Spotsylvania County
Spotsylvania County, VA 54.6 Elevated —
Fredericksburg city, VA 65.2 Serious +10.6
Caroline County, VA 55.2 Elevated +0.6
Louisa County, VA 50.2 Elevated -4.4
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal -6.2
Stafford County, VA 43.0 Normal -11.6
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal -11.8
Hanover County, VA 32.8 Healthy -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Spotsylvania County
Okaloosa County, FL 54.6 Elevated +0.0
St. Clair County, MI 54.5 Elevated -0.1
Pittsylvania County, VA 54.7 Elevated +0.1
Grady County, OK 54.5 Elevated -0.1
Tuolumne County, CA 54.9 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Spotsylvania 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 Spotsylvania 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 Spotsylvania County, Virginia?

    Spotsylvania County has a County Distress Index score of 54.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,297th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spotsylvania County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spotsylvania County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Spotsylvania County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spotsylvania County (54.6) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fredericksburg city, VA (65.2); Caroline County, VA (55.2); Louisa County, VA (50.2).

  • 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 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). Spotsylvania County's score of 54.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Spotsylvania 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 Spotsylvania County?

    Spotsylvania County, Virginia has a population of approximately 149,588 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.