Pendleton County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 6,029 people · 49th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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

Pendleton County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2249th 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 49th of 55 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pendleton County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 63.6 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 63.6
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 65
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 92
Economic Vitality 45.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Consumer Credit Distress 44.1
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 33
Housing Cost Burden 22.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 21
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 9
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pendleton County
Pendleton County, WV 39.1 Normal —
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated +22.1
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +10.4
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal +9.3
Augusta County, VA 39.8 Normal +0.7
Highland County, VA 38.3 Normal -0.7
Pocahontas County, WV 36.0 Normal -3.0
Rockingham County, VA 32.2 Healthy -6.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pendleton County
Marshall County, KS 39.1 Normal -0.0
Forest County, WI 39.1 Normal -0.0
Benson County, ND 39.0 Normal -0.0
Sherman County, OR 39.0 Normal -0.0
Schoolcraft County, MI 39.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pendleton 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 Pendleton 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 Pendleton County, West Virginia?

    Pendleton County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,249th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pendleton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pendleton County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 63.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Pendleton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pendleton County (39.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Randolph County, WV (61.1); 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). Pendleton County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Pendleton 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 Pendleton County?

    Pendleton County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 6,029 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.