Mineral County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.3 | 26,867 people · 48th most distressed in West Virginia
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Mineral County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.3 — 2174th 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 48th of 55 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mineral County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 51.3 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 51.3
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 46
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 76
Housing Cost Burden 47.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 73
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 1
Homeownership Rate 21
Consumer Credit Distress 40.4
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 48
Economic Vitality 31.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 93
Legal Distress 10.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mineral County
Mineral County, WV 40.3 Normal —
Allegany County, MD 57.4 Elevated +17.1
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +9.2
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal +8.1
Hampshire County, WV 42.9 Normal +2.6
Garrett County, MD 34.5 Healthy -5.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mineral County
Menominee County, MI 40.3 Normal 0.0
Sevier County, UT 40.3 Normal -0.0
Dickinson County, MI 40.3 Normal -0.0
Nez Perce County, ID 40.2 Normal -0.0
Dawson County, NE 40.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mineral 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 Mineral County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of West Virginia 1-866-255-4370
Mountain State Justice, Inc. 304-344-3144

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Mineral County has a County Distress Index score of 40.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,174th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 48th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mineral County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mineral County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 51.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Mineral County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mineral County (40.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Allegany County, MD (57.4); Hardy County, WV (49.5); Grant County, WV (48.4).

  • 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). Mineral County's score of 40.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mineral 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 Mineral County?

    Mineral County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 26,867 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.