Okanogan County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.0 | 43,712 people · 13th most distressed in Washington
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Okanogan County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.0 — 1957th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Washington, it ranks 13th of 39 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Okanogan County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 76.4 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 76.4
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 71
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 75
Economic Vitality 58.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 92
Consumer Credit Distress 40.4
Debt in Collections 29
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 29
Housing Cost Burden 36.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 63
Legal Distress 10.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Okanogan County
Okanogan County, WA 44.0 Normal —
Grant County, WA 48.6 Normal +4.6
Whatcom County, WA 42.0 Normal -1.9
Skagit County, WA 40.0 Normal -3.9
Douglas County, WA 39.7 Normal -4.3
Chelan County, WA 32.3 Healthy -11.7
Ferry County, WA 31.6 Healthy -12.4
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy -17.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Okanogan County
Crook County, OR 44.0 Normal -0.0
Stephenson County, IL 44.0 Normal +0.0
Union County, IL 44.0 Normal +0.0
Tioga County, PA 44.0 Normal +0.0
Perry County, PA 43.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Okanogan 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 Okanogan 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 Okanogan County, Washington?

    Okanogan County has a County Distress Index score of 44.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,957th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Okanogan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Okanogan County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 76.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Okanogan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Okanogan County (44.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Grant County, WA (48.6); Whatcom County, WA (42.0); Skagit County, WA (40.0).

  • 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). Okanogan County's score of 44.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Okanogan 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 Okanogan County?

    Okanogan County, Washington has a population of approximately 43,712 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.