Randolph County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.1 | 27,350 people · 13th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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

Randolph County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.1 — 879th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within West Virginia, it ranks 13th of 55 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Randolph County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 77.6 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 77.6
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 87
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 44
Subprime Credit Population 72
Structural Poverty 72.8
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 79
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Economic Vitality 51.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Housing Cost Burden 36.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 35
Legal Distress 19.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Randolph County
Randolph County, WV 61.1 Elevated —
Webster County, WV 70.5 Serious +9.4
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated -7.4
Barbour County, WV 49.6 Normal -11.5
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal -12.7
Pendleton County, WV 39.1 Normal -22.1
Pocahontas County, WV 36.0 Normal -25.1
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -31.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Randolph County
Oglethorpe County, GA 61.1 Elevated +0.0
Howell County, MO 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Newton County, TX 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Tazewell County, VA 61.2 Elevated +0.0
Grant Parish, LA 61.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Randolph County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Randolph County.

HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER, INC.
Elkins
304-636-9115 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

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 Randolph 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 Randolph County, West Virginia?

    Randolph County has a County Distress Index score of 61.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 879th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Randolph County?

    The primary driver of distress in Randolph County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 77.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Randolph County compare to neighboring counties?

    Randolph County (61.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Webster County, WV (70.5); Upshur County, WV (53.7); Barbour County, WV (49.6).

  • 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). Randolph County's score of 61.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Randolph 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 Randolph County?

    Randolph County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 27,350 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.