Mason County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.4 | 68,389 people · 25th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Mason County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.4 — 2284th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Washington, it ranks 25th of 39 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mason County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 59.1 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 59.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Housing Cost Burden 57.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 46
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 14
Structural Poverty 57.3
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 56.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Consumer Credit Distress 17.2
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Mason County, WA 38.4 Normal —
Pierce County, WA 51.2 Elevated +12.8
Grays Harbor County, WA 50.8 Elevated +12.4
Thurston County, WA 45.8 Normal +7.3
Kitsap County, WA 38.9 Normal +0.4
Jefferson County, WA 27.2 Healthy -11.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal -0.0
Tooele County, UT 38.5 Normal +0.1
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -0.1
Flathead County, MT 38.3 Normal -0.1
Kenai Peninsula Borough, AK 38.6 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason County, Washington?

    Mason County has a County Distress Index score of 38.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,284th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mason County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mason County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 59.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Mason County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mason County (38.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Pierce County, WA (51.2); Grays Harbor County, WA (50.8); Thurston County, WA (45.8).

  • 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). Mason County's score of 38.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mason 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 Mason County?

    Mason County, Washington has a population of approximately 68,389 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.