Westmoreland County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.7 | 19,013 people · 21st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Westmoreland County, VA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.7 — 572nd 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 21st of 133 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Westmoreland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.7 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 79.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 95
Homeownership Rate 23
Economic Vitality 68.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Consumer Credit Distress 59.9
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 61
Structural Poverty 59.2
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 66

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, VA 66.7 Serious —
Essex County, VA 69.0 Serious +2.4
Charles County, MD 61.4 Elevated -5.3
Richmond County, VA 54.5 Elevated -12.1
King George County, VA 42.4 Normal -24.3
Northumberland County, VA 42.0 Normal -24.7
St. Mary's County, MD 40.8 Normal -25.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Westmoreland County
Prince Edward County, VA 66.7 Serious 0.0
Wilbarger County, TX 66.7 Serious +0.0
Scott County, MS 66.6 Serious -0.0
Calhoun County, SC 66.8 Serious +0.1
Jasper County, MS 66.5 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County, Virginia?

    Westmoreland County has a County Distress Index score of 66.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 572nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Westmoreland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Westmoreland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Westmoreland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Westmoreland County (66.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Essex County, VA (69.0); Charles County, MD (61.4); Richmond County, VA (54.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Westmoreland County's score of 66.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Westmoreland 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 Westmoreland County?

    Westmoreland County, Virginia has a population of approximately 19,013 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.