Marion County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.4 | 55,807 people · 31st most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Marion County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.4 — 1609th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within West Virginia, it ranks 31st of 55 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 55.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 55.5
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 60
Structural Poverty 55.1
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 61
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Housing Cost Burden 44.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 43
Economic Vitality 40.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 25
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Legal Distress 25.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, WV 49.4 Normal —
Monongalia County, WV 49.5 Normal +0.1
Harrison County, WV 46.9 Normal -2.6
Taylor County, WV 40.8 Normal -8.6
Wetzel County, WV 40.5 Normal -8.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal -0.0
Monongalia County, WV 49.5 Normal +0.1
Cass County, MO 49.5 Normal +0.1
Herkimer County, NY 49.3 Normal -0.1
Lancaster County, SC 49.3 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Marion County.

THE FAIRMONT-MORGANTOWN HOUSING AUTHORITY
Fairmont
304-363-0860 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHome Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

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 Marion 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 49.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,609th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 55.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (49.4) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Monongalia County, WV (49.5); Harrison County, WV (46.9); Taylor County, WV (40.8).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 49.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 55,807 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.