Waynesboro city, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 64.1 | 23,182 people · 28th most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Waynesboro city, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 64.1 — 707th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Virginia, it ranks 28th of 133 counties. It scores higher than all 1 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Waynesboro city's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.0 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 93
Economic Vitality 73.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 88
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Legal Distress 72.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Structural Poverty 58.2
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 81
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 55
Consumer Credit Distress 56.1
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 82
Credit Card Delinquency 46
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 71

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Waynesboro city
Waynesboro city, VA 64.1 Elevated —
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal -24.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Waynesboro city
Caroline County, MD 64.1 Elevated 0.0
McCurtain County, OK 64.1 Elevated +0.0
Franklin County, GA 64.1 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, KY 64.0 Elevated -0.1
DeWitt County, TX 64.2 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro city, Virginia?

    Waynesboro city has a County Distress Index score of 64.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 707th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Waynesboro city?

    The primary driver of distress in Waynesboro city is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Waynesboro city compare to neighboring counties?

    Waynesboro city (64.1) can be compared to its 1 neighboring county: Augusta County, VA (39.8).

  • 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). Waynesboro city's score of 64.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Waynesboro 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 Waynesboro city?

    Waynesboro city, Virginia has a population of approximately 23,182 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.