Columbia County, Washington

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.9 | 4,053 people · 29th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Columbia County, WA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.9 — 2482nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Washington, it ranks 29th of 39 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Columbia County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 69.6 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 69.6
Unemployment Rate 85
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 68
Child Poverty Rate 54
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 79
Legal Distress 48.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Housing Cost Burden 30.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 30
Consumer Credit Distress 27.9
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 19
Economic Vitality 18.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 9
House Price Change (YoY) 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbia County
Columbia County, WA 34.9 Healthy —
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated +18.6
Franklin County, WA 46.0 Normal +11.1
Walla Walla County, WA 43.5 Normal +8.6
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal +6.2
Garfield County, WA 36.7 Normal +1.8
Wallowa County, OR 34.2 Healthy -0.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Columbia County
Toole County, MT 34.9 Healthy -0.0
Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK 35.0 Healthy +0.1
Hartley County, TX 35.1 Normal +0.2
Norman County, MN 35.1 Normal +0.3
Mathews County, VA 35.2 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Columbia County

Find an Attorney

Washington State Bar Association — Find Legal Help offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Washington State Bar Association — Find Legal Help 1-800-945-9722

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Columbia County residents at no cost.

Northwest Justice Project (NJP) 1-888-201-1014
Columbia Legal Services 1-206-464-1122

Self-Help Resources

Washington Law Help — Foreclosure Free legal information and self-help resources for low-income Washington residents, including foreclosure guides, tenant rights in foreclosure, and links to legal aid.
Washington Courts Self-Help Resources Washington Courts website with forms, instructions, and resources for self-represented litigants including those involved in foreclosure-related proceedings.
DFI Foreclosure Assistance and Information Department of Financial Institutions page with foreclosure prevention resources, consumer alerts about foreclosure rescue scams, and links to assistance programs.

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 Washington →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Columbia County, Washington?

    Columbia County has a County Distress Index score of 34.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,482nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Columbia County?

    The primary driver of distress in Columbia County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 69.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Columbia County compare to neighboring counties?

    Columbia County (34.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Umatilla County, OR (53.5); Franklin County, WA (46.0); Walla Walla County, WA (43.5).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Columbia County's score of 34.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Columbia 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 Columbia County?

    Columbia County, Washington has a population of approximately 4,053 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.