Franklin County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.0 | 99,034 people · 10th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Franklin County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.0 — 1847th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Washington, it ranks 10th of 39 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 72.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 72.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 62
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 83
Housing Cost Burden 61.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 43
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 70
Legal Distress 51.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Consumer Credit Distress 35.8
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 25
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 54
Structural Poverty 35.1
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, WA 46.0 Normal —
Adams County, WA 56.2 Elevated +10.2
Grant County, WA 48.6 Normal +2.6
Walla Walla County, WA 43.5 Normal -2.5
Benton County, WA 42.3 Normal -3.7
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal -4.9
Columbia County, WA 34.9 Healthy -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Kent County, RI 46.0 Normal 0.0
Columbia County, PA 46.0 Normal +0.0
Northumberland County, PA 46.0 Normal +0.0
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal +0.0
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Washington?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 46.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,847th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 72.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (46.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Adams County, WA (56.2); Grant County, WA (48.6); 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 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). Franklin County's score of 46.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Washington has a population of approximately 99,034 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.