Lewis County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.5 | 86,154 people · 6th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Lewis County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.5 — 1680th 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 6th of 39 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lewis County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 89
Homeownership Rate 51
Structural Poverty 64.3
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 63
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 59
Legal Distress 63.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 63
Economic Vitality 58.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Consumer Credit Distress 28.4
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 18
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Lewis County, WA 48.5 Normal —
Yakima County, WA 58.8 Elevated +10.3
Pierce County, WA 51.2 Elevated +2.7
Grays Harbor County, WA 50.8 Elevated +2.3
Cowlitz County, WA 46.9 Normal -1.6
Thurston County, WA 45.8 Normal -2.7
Pacific County, WA 40.8 Normal -7.7
Wahkiakum County, WA 36.4 Normal -12.1
Skamania County, WA 31.7 Healthy -16.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Franklin County, MA 48.5 Normal +0.0
Mercer County, PA 48.5 Normal -0.0
Culpeper County, VA 48.5 Normal -0.0
Eddy County, NM 48.5 Normal +0.1
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County, Washington?

    Lewis County has a County Distress Index score of 48.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,680th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lewis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lewis County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lewis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lewis County (48.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Yakima County, WA (58.8); Pierce County, WA (51.2); Grays Harbor County, WA (50.8).

  • 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). Lewis County's score of 48.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lewis 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 Lewis County?

    Lewis County, Washington has a population of approximately 86,154 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.