The Most Distressed ZIP Codes in America — 2026 Public-Record Report
DLRadar scores all 33,643 U.S. ZIP codes from 0 to 100 for property distress, built entirely from public records. The national average is 22/100, but distress concentrates: 88 ZIP codes score 50 or higher. Here are the most distressed ZIP codes and states in America for 2026.
- America's most distressed ZIP code is 33952 (Florida) at 66/100.
- DLRadar scores 33,643 U.S. ZIP codes; the national average is 22/100 and 88 score 50 or higher.
- Florida is the most distressed state, averaging 36/100 across 1,013 ZIP codes.
- The most distressed states cluster in the South and coasts: Florida, Hawaii, South Carolina, Louisiana, North Carolina, Washington.
U.S. ZIPs figures: DLRadar's monthly public-record distress index; cite U.S. ZIPs with attribution to DLRadar (dlradar.com).
| Rank | State | Avg distress | ZIPs scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 36/100 | 1,013 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 36/100 | 97 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 31/100 | 424 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 30/100 | 539 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 29/100 | 853 |
| 6 | Washington | 28/100 | 605 |
| 7 | Arizona | 28/100 | 417 |
| 8 | California | 27/100 | 1,802 |
| 9 | Texas | 26/100 | 1,989 |
| 10 | Alabama | 26/100 | 656 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 26/100 | 598 |
| 12 | Kentucky | 25/100 | 780 |
Most distressed states by average ZIP distress (0-100, 2026)
How U.S. ZIPs are scored
Every U.S. ZIPs score is a 0-100 composite; the U.S. ZIPs composite reads three axes: market stress (U.S. ZIPs price pressure), structural risk (U.S. ZIPs climate, insurance and institutional exposure) and U.S. ZIPs distress activity (U.S. ZIPs foreclosure filings, delinquency and liens); every U.S. ZIPs figure is deterministic and rule-based, so U.S. ZIPs compare directly.
The geography of American distress
Distress skews coastal and southern, led by Florida at 36/100. Hurricane and flood exposure feeding an insurance crisis, price dislocation in Gulf and Southeast markets, and elevated foreclosure and tax-lien activity stack on top of one another. The single most distressed ZIP nationwide, 33952 in Florida, hits 66/100 — far above the 22/100 national average.
From U.S. ZIPs to a distressed property
Each U.S. ZIPs score is a starting point for U.S. ZIPs; a DLRadar plan opens U.S. ZIPs distressed parcels, all 12 U.S. ZIPs property-distress categories scored: mortgage, tax-lien (U.S. ZIPs), vacancy, code-violation (U.S. ZIPs), probate and more; start from the highest-composite U.S. ZIPs above.
U.S. ZIPs: the distressed properties behind the data
U.S. ZIPs rankings are free to read; the U.S. ZIPs live board refreshes every 15 minutes; a monthly U.S. ZIPs plan opens the parcels behind U.S. ZIPs, cancel any time.
U.S. ZIPs figures refresh monthly.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most distressed ZIP code in America?
ZIP 33952 in Florida scores 66/100, the highest composite property distress in the country. Recomputed monthly from public records.
Which state has the most distressed real estate?
Florida leads at 36/100 average ZIP distress across 1,013 ZIP codes — the highest state average, driven by insurance, climate and foreclosure pressure.
Is the ZIP distress data free to use?
U.S. ZIPs rankings are free to browse; cite U.S. ZIPs with attribution to DLRadar; the U.S. ZIPs live board refreshes every 15 minutes; U.S. ZIPs property-level detail opens on a monthly U.S. ZIPs plan, cancel any time, with a 7-day browse-only free trial.
Related
U.S. ZIPs scores are deterministic reads of U.S. ZIPs public records; U.S. ZIPs figures are research, not investment, legal or U.S. ZIPs financial advice; the U.S. ZIPs index refreshes monthly.