Wahkiakum County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.4 | 4,765 people · 28th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Wahkiakum County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.4 — 2396th 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 28th of 39 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wahkiakum County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 71.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 71.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 95
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 5
Structural Poverty 65.5
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Economic Vitality 58.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 81
Rent-to-Income Ratio 34
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 92
Legal Distress 27.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Consumer Credit Distress 8.6
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wahkiakum County
Wahkiakum County, WA 36.4 Normal —
Clatsop County, OR 48.8 Normal +12.4
Columbia County, OR 48.7 Normal +12.3
Lewis County, WA 48.5 Normal +12.1
Cowlitz County, WA 46.9 Normal +10.4
Pacific County, WA 40.8 Normal +4.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wahkiakum County
Cloud County, KS 36.5 Normal +0.0
Wheatland County, MT 36.5 Normal +0.0
Webster County, NE 36.5 Normal +0.1
Gregory County, SD 36.4 Normal -0.1
Grant County, KS 36.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Wahkiakum County, Washington?

    Wahkiakum County has a County Distress Index score of 36.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,396th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wahkiakum County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wahkiakum County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 71.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Wahkiakum County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wahkiakum County (36.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Clatsop County, OR (48.8); Columbia County, OR (48.7); Lewis County, WA (48.5).

  • 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). Wahkiakum County's score of 36.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wahkiakum 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 Wahkiakum County?

    Wahkiakum County, Washington has a population of approximately 4,765 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.