Preston County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.8 | 34,099 people · 37th most distressed in West Virginia
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Preston County, WV falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.8 — 1727th 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 37th 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. Preston County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 63.1 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 63.1
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 69
Consumer Credit Distress 55.1
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 53.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 39
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 3
Legal Distress 28.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Housing Cost Burden 27.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Preston County
Preston County, WV 47.8 Normal —
Fayette County, PA 63.3 Elevated +15.5
Barbour County, WV 49.6 Normal +1.8
Monongalia County, WV 49.5 Normal +1.7
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal +0.6
Taylor County, WV 40.8 Normal -7.0
Garrett County, MD 34.5 Healthy -13.3
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -17.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Preston County
McKean County, PA 47.8 Normal +0.0
Alleghany County, VA 47.9 Normal +0.1
Marion County, MO 47.7 Normal -0.1
Lee County, IA 47.7 Normal -0.1
Albany County, WY 48.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Preston 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 Preston 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 Preston County, West Virginia?

    Preston County has a County Distress Index score of 47.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,727th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Preston County?

    The primary driver of distress in Preston County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 63.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Preston County compare to neighboring counties?

    Preston County (47.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fayette County, PA (63.3); Barbour County, WV (49.6); Monongalia County, WV (49.5).

  • 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). Preston County's score of 47.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Preston 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 Preston County?

    Preston County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 34,099 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.