Walla Walla County, Washington

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.5 | 61,568 people · 14th most distressed in Washington
American Default Research

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Walla Walla County, WA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.5 — 1982nd 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 14th of 39 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Walla Walla County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 77.1 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 77.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 82
Economic Vitality 76.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 89
Rent-to-Income Ratio 85
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 34
Legal Distress 55.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 55
Structural Poverty 51.1
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Consumer Credit Distress 17.3
Debt in Collections 14
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Walla Walla County
Walla Walla County, WA 43.5 Normal —
Umatilla County, OR 53.5 Elevated +10.0
Franklin County, WA 46.0 Normal +2.5
Benton County, WA 42.3 Normal -1.2
Columbia County, WA 34.9 Healthy -8.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Walla Walla County
Steuben County, NY 43.4 Normal -0.1
Campbell County, VA 43.6 Normal +0.1
Wayne County, PA 43.4 Normal -0.1
Watauga County, NC 43.6 Normal +0.1
Clearfield County, PA 43.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla 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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Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Washington →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Walla Walla County has a County Distress Index score of 43.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,982nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Washington out of 39 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Walla Walla County?

    The primary driver of distress in Walla Walla County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 77.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Walla Walla County compare to neighboring counties?

    Walla Walla County (43.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Umatilla County, OR (53.5); Franklin County, WA (46.0); Benton County, WA (42.3).

  • 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). Walla Walla County's score of 43.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Walla Walla 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 Walla Walla County?

    Walla Walla County, Washington has a population of approximately 61,568 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.