Marshall County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.8 | 29,405 people · 25th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Marshall County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.8 — 1413th 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 25th of 55 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marshall County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 61.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 61.0
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 26
Auto Loan Delinquency 83
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 60
Housing Cost Burden 57.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 24
Structural Poverty 53.9
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 62
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 72
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Economic Vitality 29.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 3
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 10
Legal Distress 13.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Marshall County, WV 52.8 Elevated —
Belmont County, OH 56.3 Elevated +3.4
Ohio County, WV 54.9 Elevated +2.1
Greene County, PA 49.3 Normal -3.5
Monroe County, OH 41.3 Normal -11.6
Wetzel County, WV 40.5 Normal -12.4
Washington County, PA 36.2 Normal -16.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Douglas County, MO 52.8 Elevated -0.0
Russell County, VA 52.8 Elevated -0.1
Owyhee County, ID 52.9 Elevated +0.1
Tallapoosa County, AL 52.7 Elevated -0.1
Carroll County, AR 53.0 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marshall 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 Marshall 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 Marshall County, West Virginia?

    Marshall County has a County Distress Index score of 52.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,413th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marshall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marshall County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 61.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Marshall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marshall County (52.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Belmont County, OH (56.3); Ohio County, WV (54.9); Greene County, PA (49.3).

  • 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). Marshall County's score of 52.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Marshall 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 Marshall County?

    Marshall County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 29,405 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.