Wood County, West Virginia

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.5 | 83,052 people · 26th most distressed in West Virginia
American Default Research

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Wood County, WV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.5 — 1486th 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 26th of 55 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wood County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 56.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 56.7
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 27
Auto Loan Delinquency 79
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 50
Housing Cost Burden 54.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 50
Structural Poverty 53.9
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 72
Transfer Income Dependency 53
Economic Vitality 32.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Legal Distress 29.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wood County
Wood County, WV 51.5 Elevated —
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +8.3
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated +7.3
Jackson County, WV 48.1 Normal -3.4
Washington County, OH 47.9 Normal -3.6
Ritchie County, WV 41.3 Normal -10.2
Pleasants County, WV 40.7 Normal -10.8
Wirt County, WV 38.1 Normal -13.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wood County
Shiawassee County, MI 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated -0.0
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Chautauqua County, NY 51.6 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wood County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Wood County.

CCCS OF THE MID-OHIO VALLEY, INC.
PARKERSBURG
304-485-3141 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 Wood 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Wood County has a County Distress Index score of 51.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,486th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in West Virginia out of 55 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wood County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wood County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 56.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Wood County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wood County (51.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Athens County, OH (59.8); Meigs County, OH (58.8); Jackson County, WV (48.1).

  • 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). Wood County's score of 51.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Wood 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 Wood County?

    Wood County, West Virginia has a population of approximately 83,052 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.