Tazewell County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.2 | 39,120 people · 38th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Tazewell County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.2 — 874th 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 38th of 133 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Tazewell County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.2 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Structural Poverty 88.5
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 89
Income vs. State Median 99
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 82
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Consumer Credit Distress 62.6
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 74
Economic Vitality 57.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 46
Rent-to-Income Ratio 73
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Housing Cost Burden 33.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 3
Homeownership Rate 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Tazewell County
Tazewell County, VA 61.2 Elevated —
Mercer County, WV 64.6 Elevated +3.4
McDowell County, WV 63.0 Elevated +1.8
Buchanan County, VA 61.5 Elevated +0.4
Smyth County, VA 60.1 Elevated -1.1
Russell County, VA 52.8 Elevated -8.4
Bland County, VA 36.2 Normal -25.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Tazewell County
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated 0.0
Howell County, MO 61.2 Elevated -0.0
Oglethorpe County, GA 61.1 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated -0.0
Conway County, AR 61.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Tazewell 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 Tazewell 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 Tazewell County, Virginia?

    Tazewell County has a County Distress Index score of 61.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 874th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Tazewell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Tazewell County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Tazewell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Tazewell County (61.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mercer County, WV (64.6); McDowell County, WV (63.0); Buchanan County, VA (61.5).

  • 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). Tazewell County's score of 61.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Tazewell 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 Tazewell County?

    Tazewell County, Virginia has a population of approximately 39,120 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.