Cabell County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.2 | 92,082 people · 3rd most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Cabell County, WV shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.2 — 483rd 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 West Virginia, it ranks 3rd of 55 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cabell County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.2 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 19
Homeownership Rate 88
Consumer Credit Distress 68.4
Debt in Collections 77
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 64.7
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 85
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Legal Distress 57.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Economic Vitality 34.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cabell County
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious —
Lawrence County, OH 64.9 Elevated -3.2
Lincoln County, WV 63.5 Elevated -4.7
Wayne County, WV 61.0 Elevated -7.1
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -10.4
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal -21.7
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal -22.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cabell County
Monroe County, PA 68.2 Serious +0.0
Camden County, GA 68.2 Serious +0.0
Marion County, OH 68.2 Serious +0.1
Barrow County, GA 68.1 Serious -0.1
Roanoke city, VA 68.3 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cabell County

Find an Attorney

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

West Virginia State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 304-558-2456

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Cabell County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of West Virginia 1-866-255-4370
Mountain State Justice, Inc. 304-344-3144

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 West Virginia →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cabell County, West Virginia?

    Cabell County has a County Distress Index score of 68.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 483rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cabell County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cabell County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cabell County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cabell County (68.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lawrence County, OH (64.9); Lincoln County, WV (63.5); Wayne County, WV (61.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). Cabell County's score of 68.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Cabell 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 Cabell County?

    Cabell County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 92,082 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.