Wythe County, Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.8 | 28,104 people · 41st most distressed in Virginia
American Default Research

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Wythe County, VA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.8 — 967th 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 41st of 133 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wythe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.8 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 65.8
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Consumer Credit Distress 65.8
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 82
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 71
Housing Cost Burden 45.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 38
Economic Vitality 38.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wythe County
Wythe County, VA 59.8 Elevated —
Smyth County, VA 60.1 Elevated +0.3
Pulaski County, VA 55.6 Elevated -4.2
Grayson County, VA 54.6 Elevated -5.2
Carroll County, VA 53.6 Elevated -6.2
Bland County, VA 36.2 Normal -23.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wythe County
Lampasas County, TX 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Sharp County, AR 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Panola County, TX 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Eastland County, TX 59.7 Elevated -0.1
Mason County, KY 59.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wythe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Wythe County.

HELPING OVERCOME POVERTY'S EXISTENCE, INC., (FORMERLY MOUNTAIN SHELTER, INC.)
Wytheville
276-228-6280 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Virginia →

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 Wythe 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Virginia →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Wythe County, Virginia?

    Wythe County has a County Distress Index score of 59.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 967th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Virginia out of 133 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wythe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wythe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wythe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wythe County (59.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Smyth County, VA (60.1); Pulaski County, VA (55.6); Grayson County, VA (54.6).

  • 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). Wythe County's score of 59.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wythe 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 Wythe County?

    Wythe County, Virginia has a population of approximately 28,104 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.