Lewis County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.9 | 16,500 people · 19th most distressed in West Virginia
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Lewis County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.9 — 1082nd 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 19th of 55 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lewis County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 74.9 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 74.9
Debt in Collections 84
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 69
Structural Poverty 65.8
Unemployment Rate 82
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 52
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 76
Housing Cost Burden 45.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 68
Economic Vitality 31.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Lewis County, WV 57.9 Elevated —
Webster County, WV 70.5 Serious +12.6
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated -4.2
Gilmer County, WV 48.6 Normal -9.4
Braxton County, WV 47.2 Normal -10.7
Harrison County, WV 46.9 Normal -11.1
Doddridge County, WV 43.5 Normal -14.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated 0.0
Henry County, AL 57.9 Elevated -0.0
Pettis County, MO 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Jackson County, OK 57.9 Elevated -0.1
Chester County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County, West Virginia?

    Lewis County has a County Distress Index score of 57.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,082nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lewis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lewis County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 74.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Lewis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lewis County (57.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Webster County, WV (70.5); Upshur County, WV (53.7); Gilmer County, WV (48.6).

  • 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). Lewis County's score of 57.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lewis 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 Lewis County?

    Lewis County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 16,500 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.