Kanawha County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.1 | 174,805 people · 17th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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

Kanawha County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.1 — 948th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within West Virginia, it ranks 17th of 55 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kanawha County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 72.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 72.5
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 89
Auto Loan Delinquency 78
Credit Card Delinquency 73
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 68
Structural Poverty 58.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 79
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Housing Cost Burden 53.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 13
Homeownership Rate 70
Economic Vitality 38.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Legal Distress 29.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kanawha County
Kanawha County, WV 60.1 Elevated —
Boone County, WV 70.5 Serious +10.4
Clay County, WV 66.8 Serious +6.7
Raleigh County, WV 64.1 Elevated +4.0
Lincoln County, WV 63.5 Elevated +3.4
Fayette County, WV 62.8 Elevated +2.7
Nicholas County, WV 51.3 Elevated -8.8
Roane County, WV 48.3 Normal -11.7
Jackson County, WV 48.1 Normal -11.9
Putnam County, WV 46.0 Normal -14.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kanawha County
Lafayette County, MS 60.1 Elevated +0.0
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated -0.1
Garfield County, OK 60.0 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated -0.1
St. Charles Parish, LA 60.2 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kanawha County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kanawha County.

RELIGIOUS COALITION FOR COMMUNITY RENEWAL
Charleston
304-346-6398
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in West Virginia →

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 Kanawha 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 Kanawha County, West Virginia?

    Kanawha County has a County Distress Index score of 60.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 948th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kanawha County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kanawha County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 72.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Kanawha County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kanawha County (60.1) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Boone County, WV (70.5); Clay County, WV (66.8); Raleigh County, WV (64.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Kanawha County's score of 60.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Kanawha 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 Kanawha County?

    Kanawha County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 174,805 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.