Spokane County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.7 | 551,455 people · 8th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Spokane County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.7 — 1733rd 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 8th of 39 counties. It scores higher 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. Spokane County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.8 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 90
Homeownership Rate 87
Economic Vitality 61.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Legal Distress 51.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Structural Poverty 43.0
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 22
Disability Rate 48
Transfer Income Dependency 31
Consumer Credit Distress 26.9
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 37
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Spokane County
Spokane County, WA 47.7 Normal —
Benewah County, ID 44.7 Normal -2.9
Kootenai County, ID 41.5 Normal -6.1
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal -6.6
Stevens County, WA 34.7 Healthy -13.0
Bonner County, ID 33.7 Healthy -14.0
Pend Oreille County, WA 30.7 Healthy -17.0
Lincoln County, WA 26.4 Healthy -21.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Spokane County
Ramsey County, MN 47.6 Normal -0.0
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal -0.0
Anchorage Municipality, AK 47.6 Normal -0.1
Sarasota County, FL 48.0 Normal +0.3
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Spokane County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Spokane County.

COMMUNITY FRAMEWORKS
Spokane
509-484-6733 Website
Home Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
SPOKANE NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PARTNERS
Spokane
509-456-7627 Website
Foreclosure PreventionPost-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Washington →

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 Spokane 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 Spokane County, Washington?

    Spokane County has a County Distress Index score of 47.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,733rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Spokane County?

    The primary driver of distress in Spokane County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Spokane County compare to neighboring counties?

    Spokane County (47.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Benewah County, ID (44.7); Kootenai County, ID (41.5); Whitman County, WA (41.1).

  • 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). Spokane County's score of 47.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Spokane 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 Spokane County?

    Spokane County, Washington has a population of approximately 551,455 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.