Jefferson County, Washington

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.2 | 33,714 people · 38th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Jefferson County, WA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.2 — 2880th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Washington, it ranks 38th of 39 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jefferson County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 58.6 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 58.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Structural Poverty 54.0
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 81
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 42.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 42
Housing Cost Burden 41.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 20
Consumer Credit Distress 4.5
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 1
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, WA 27.2 Healthy —
Grays Harbor County, WA 50.8 Elevated +23.6
Clallam County, WA 40.5 Normal +13.3
Kitsap County, WA 38.9 Normal +11.7
Mason County, WA 38.4 Normal +11.2
Island County, WA 34.3 Healthy +7.0
San Juan County, WA 29.0 Healthy +1.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Custer County, NE 27.2 Healthy -0.0
Jo Daviess County, IL 27.3 Healthy +0.1
Watonwan County, MN 27.2 Healthy -0.1
Fillmore County, MN 27.2 Healthy -0.1
Davison County, SD 27.3 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 27.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,880th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 58.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (27.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grays Harbor County, WA (50.8); Clallam County, WA (40.5); Kitsap County, WA (38.9).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 27.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Washington has a population of approximately 33,714 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.