Klickitat County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.1 | 23,589 people · 26th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Klickitat County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.1 — 2304th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Washington, it ranks 26th of 39 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Klickitat County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 44
Structural Poverty 57.1
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 54.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 54
Economic Vitality 47.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 41
Consumer Credit Distress 17.9
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Klickitat County
Klickitat County, WA 38.1 Normal —
Yakima County, WA 58.8 Elevated +20.6
Wasco County, OR 51.6 Elevated +13.4
Benton County, WA 42.3 Normal +4.1
Sherman County, OR 39.0 Normal +0.9
Gilliam County, OR 32.9 Healthy -5.3
Morrow County, OR 32.7 Healthy -5.5
Hood River County, OR 32.5 Healthy -5.6
Skamania County, WA 31.7 Healthy -6.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Klickitat County
Warren County, VA 38.2 Normal +0.1
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal -0.1
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal +0.1
Fountain County, IN 38.0 Normal -0.1
Delta County, MI 38.0 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Klickitat 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 Klickitat 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 Klickitat County, Washington?

    Klickitat County has a County Distress Index score of 38.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,304th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Klickitat County?

    The primary driver of distress in Klickitat County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Klickitat County compare to neighboring counties?

    Klickitat County (38.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Yakima County, WA (58.8); Wasco County, OR (51.6); Benton County, WA (42.3).

  • 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). Klickitat County's score of 38.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Klickitat 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 Klickitat County?

    Klickitat County, Washington has a population of approximately 23,589 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.