Skagit County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.0 | 131,417 people · 22nd most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Skagit County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.0 — 2191st 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 22nd of 39 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Skagit County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 83.2 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 83.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 68
Economic Vitality 67.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Legal Distress 45.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Structural Poverty 31.7
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 18
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 22
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Consumer Credit Distress 16.2
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Skagit County
Skagit County, WA 40.0 Normal —
Okanogan County, WA 44.0 Normal +3.9
Whatcom County, WA 42.0 Normal +2.0
Snohomish County, WA 41.0 Normal +1.0
Island County, WA 34.3 Healthy -5.8
Chelan County, WA 32.3 Healthy -7.8
San Juan County, WA 29.0 Healthy -11.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Skagit County
James City County, VA 39.9 Normal -0.2
Blue Earth County, MN 40.2 Normal +0.2
Deschutes County, OR 40.3 Normal +0.2
Madison County, ID 39.8 Normal -0.2
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Skagit 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 Skagit 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 Skagit County, Washington?

    Skagit County has a County Distress Index score of 40.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,191st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Skagit County?

    The primary driver of distress in Skagit County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 83.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Skagit County compare to neighboring counties?

    Skagit County (40.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Okanogan County, WA (44.0); Whatcom County, WA (42.0); Snohomish County, WA (41.0).

  • 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). Skagit County's score of 40.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Skagit 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 Skagit County?

    Skagit County, Washington has a population of approximately 131,417 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.