Grant County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.4 | 10,921 people · 34th most distressed in West Virginia
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Grant County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.4 — 1687th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within West Virginia, it ranks 34th of 55 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Grant County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 63.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 63.5
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 71
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 87
Housing Cost Burden 62.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 70
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 87
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 15
Consumer Credit Distress 46.2
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 90
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 35
Economic Vitality 37.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Grant County
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal —
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated +12.7
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +1.1
Preston County, WV 47.8 Normal -0.6
Hampshire County, WV 42.9 Normal -5.5
Mineral County, WV 40.3 Normal -8.1
Pendleton County, WV 39.1 Normal -9.3
Garrett County, MD 34.5 Healthy -13.9
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -18.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Grant County
Asotin County, WA 48.4 Normal -0.0
Monroe County, WV 48.5 Normal +0.0
Burleson County, TX 48.4 Normal -0.0
Adair County, MO 48.5 Normal +0.1
Charlottesville city, VA 48.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Grant 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 Grant 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Grant County has a County Distress Index score of 48.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,687th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Grant County?

    The primary driver of distress in Grant County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 63.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Grant County compare to neighboring counties?

    Grant County (48.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Randolph County, WV (61.1); Hardy County, WV (49.5); Preston County, WV (47.8).

  • 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). Grant County's score of 48.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Grant 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 Grant County?

    Grant County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 10,921 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.