Lincoln County, Washington

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.4 | 11,738 people · 39th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Lincoln County, WA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.4 — 2915th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Washington, it ranks 39th of 39 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 59.2 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 59.2
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 31
Disability Rate 87
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Economic Vitality 26.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 48
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Legal Distress 23.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 23
Consumer Credit Distress 22.5
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 46
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 11
Housing Cost Burden 15.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 6
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 54
Homeownership Rate 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy —
Adams County, WA 56.2 Elevated +29.8
Grant County, WA 48.6 Normal +22.2
Spokane County, WA 47.7 Normal +21.3
Okanogan County, WA 44.0 Normal +17.6
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal +14.7
Stevens County, WA 34.7 Healthy +8.3
Ferry County, WA 31.6 Healthy +5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Madison County, VA 26.4 Healthy -0.0
Elbert County, CO 26.4 Healthy +0.0
Piatt County, IL 26.3 Healthy -0.1
Spencer County, IN 26.5 Healthy +0.1
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Washington?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 26.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,915th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 59.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (26.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Adams County, WA (56.2); Grant County, WA (48.6); Spokane County, WA (47.7).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 26.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Washington has a population of approximately 11,738 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.