Cowlitz County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.9 | 112,864 people · 9th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Cowlitz County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.9 — 1788th 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 Washington, it ranks 9th of 39 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cowlitz County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 81.0 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 81.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 82
Economic Vitality 59.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Structural Poverty 58.0
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Legal Distress 50.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Consumer Credit Distress 24.8
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 12
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cowlitz County
Cowlitz County, WA 46.9 Normal —
Columbia County, OR 48.7 Normal +1.8
Lewis County, WA 48.5 Normal +1.6
Clark County, WA 43.1 Normal -3.8
Wahkiakum County, WA 36.4 Normal -10.4
Skamania County, WA 31.7 Healthy -15.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cowlitz County
Harrison County, WV 46.9 Normal +0.0
Chambers County, TX 46.8 Normal -0.0
Saline County, AR 46.8 Normal -0.1
Boone County, MO 46.9 Normal +0.1
Oconee County, SC 47.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County, Washington?

    Cowlitz County has a County Distress Index score of 46.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,788th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cowlitz County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cowlitz County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 81.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cowlitz County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cowlitz County (46.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Columbia County, OR (48.7); Lewis County, WA (48.5); Clark County, WA (43.1).

  • 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 Normal 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). Cowlitz County's score of 46.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cowlitz 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 Cowlitz County?

    Cowlitz County, Washington has a population of approximately 112,864 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.