Suffolk city, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.4 | 100,659 people · 31st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Suffolk city, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.4 — 748th 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 31st 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. Suffolk city's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.6 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Housing Cost Burden 90.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 99
Homeownership Rate 69
Economic Vitality 69.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 18
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Consumer Credit Distress 55.5
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 31
Subprime Credit Population 77
Structural Poverty 27.1
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 30
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Suffolk city
Suffolk city, VA 63.4 Elevated —
Portsmouth city, VA 81.9 Crisis +18.4
Newport News city, VA 75.3 Serious +11.9
Gates County, NC 58.3 Elevated -5.1
Southampton County, VA 57.4 Elevated -6.0
Chesapeake city, VA 56.5 Elevated -7.0
Isle of Wight County, VA 41.6 Normal -21.9
Camden County, NC 30.8 Healthy -32.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Suffolk city
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated 0.0
Lee County, AL 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Madera County, CA 63.4 Elevated -0.0
White County, AR 63.5 Elevated +0.0
Paulding County, GA 63.4 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Suffolk city as a CSV file.

Find Help in Suffolk city

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 Suffolk city 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 Suffolk city, Virginia?

    Suffolk city has a County Distress Index score of 63.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 748th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Suffolk city?

    The primary driver of distress in Suffolk city is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Suffolk city compare to neighboring counties?

    Suffolk city (63.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Portsmouth city, VA (81.9); Newport News city, VA (75.3); Gates County, NC (58.3).

  • 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). Suffolk city's score of 63.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Suffolk city's CDI score?

    Suffolk city'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 Suffolk city?

    Suffolk city, Virginia has a population of approximately 100,659 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.