Most Distressed ZIP Codes in America
DLRadar's 2026 U.S. property-distress report — every U.S. ZIP code scored 0-100 from foreclosure, mortgage, tax, climate and institutional signals, so you can find the markets with the most distressed-property opportunity.
scoring, refreshed monthly. Free to cite with attribution to DLRadar (dlradar.com).
Most distressed states in America
Average composite ZIP distress by state. Open a state for county- and ZIP-level detail.
| # | State | Avg distress | ZIPs scored |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 36 | 1,013 |
| 2 | Hawaii | 36 | 97 |
| 3 | South Carolina | 31 | 424 |
| 4 | Louisiana | 30 | 539 |
| 5 | North Carolina | 29 | 853 |
| 6 | Washington | 28 | 605 |
| 7 | Arizona | 28 | 417 |
| 8 | California | 27 | 1,802 |
| 9 | Texas | 26 | 1,989 |
| 10 | Alabama | 26 | 656 |
| 11 | New Jersey | 26 | 598 |
| 12 | Oregon | 26 | 428 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 26 | 81 |
| 14 | Kentucky | 25 | 780 |
| 15 | Georgia | 25 | 751 |
Most distressed ZIP codes right now
Composite stress score (0-100). Open any ZIP for its full stress report.
| ZIP | State | Composite stress |
|---|---|---|
| 33982 | Florida | 66 |
| 33955 | Florida | 66 |
| 33946 | Florida | 66 |
| 33981 | Florida | 66 |
| 33983 | Florida | 66 |
| 34224 | Florida | 66 |
| 33952 | Florida | 66 |
| 33947 | Florida | 66 |
| 33980 | Florida | 66 |
| 33953 | Florida | 66 |
| 33948 | Florida | 66 |
| 33950 | Florida | 66 |
| 33954 | Florida | 66 |
| 33956 | Florida | 54 |
| 33965 | Florida | 54 |
| 33917 | Florida | 54 |
| 33966 | Florida | 54 |
| 33957 | Florida | 54 |
| 33976 | Florida | 54 |
| 33973 | Florida | 54 |
| 33972 | Florida | 54 |
| 33974 | Florida | 54 |
| 33991 | Florida | 54 |
| 33967 | Florida | 54 |
| 33993 | Florida | 54 |
From distressed ZIP to distressed property
Each ZIP stress report breaks down every stress dimension and teases the inventory inside it. A DLRadar plan unlocks the actual distressed properties - with scores, signals, and acquisition tools.
How distressed ZIP codes work
What makes a ZIP code distressed?
DLRadar combines every housing-stress signal in a ZIP - foreclosure and pre-foreclosure activity, mortgage delinquency, tax delinquency, code and lien filings, climate and insurance pressure, and institutional risk - into a single composite stress score from 0 to 100. Higher means more distress, and more distressed-property opportunity.
How do I find the best ZIP codes for distressed properties?
Start with the highest composite-stress ZIPs below, then open each ZIP's stress report to see which specific signals are driving it. The right ZIP depends on your strategy - foreclosure buyers, tax-lien investors, and rehabbers each weight the signals differently.
Is this nationwide?
Yes - DLRadar scores tens of thousands of U.S. ZIP codes every month. The composite score is modeled from public-record and economic signals, normalized so ZIPs are comparable across states.
What do I get when I open a ZIP?
Each ZIP stress report shows the full breakdown of stress dimensions plus a teaser of the distressed-property inventory inside it. The exact properties - owner, address, parcel - unlock with a DLRadar plan.