Broward County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 69.5 | 1,962,531 people · 25th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Broward County sits between Miami-Dade and Palm Beach — geographically and economically. The county scores 59.1, Elevated, ranking 905th nationally and 42nd among Florida's 67 counties. Housing Cost Burden dominates at 96.4. Rent-burdened renters register at the 99.9th percentile. That is not a typo. Virtually every renter in Broward County spends more than 30% of income on housing. The credit card delinquency rate sits at the 74.1st percentile. Bankruptcy filings: 80.4th. What distinguishes Broward from its neighbors is the business formation data. Business applications per capita score at just the 0.5th percentile — among the lowest in the country. This is a consumer economy, not an entrepreneurial one. Wage-to-rent ratio registers at the 95.8th percentile for burden. Local wages don't match local rents. The gap gets covered by credit. The credit goes delinquent. Miami-Dade to the south scores 57.5. Palm Beach to the north: 54.5. Hendry County, inland and rural: 68.8 (Serious). The entire South Florida corridor registers Elevated or worse. Broward County is neither the wealthiest nor the most distressed in the region. It is the one where the housing cost burden is closest to absolute — a county of nearly two million people where rental affordability has essentially disappeared from the data.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Broward County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 96.7 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 96.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 88
Legal Distress 80.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Economic Vitality 79.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 96
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Consumer Credit Distress 64.7
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 74
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 73
Structural Poverty 29.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 26
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 10
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Broward County
Broward County, FL 69.5 Serious —
Hendry County, FL 77.7 Serious +8.2
Miami-Dade County, FL 70.7 Serious +1.3
Palm Beach County, FL 59.5 Elevated -9.9
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal -19.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Broward County
San Bernardino County, CA 68.7 Serious -0.8
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious +1.2
Miami-Dade County, FL 70.7 Serious +1.3
Fulton County, GA 68.0 Serious -1.5
Hillsborough County, FL 71.5 Serious +2.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Broward County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Broward County.

CONSOLIDATED CREDIT SOLUTIONS, INC.
Plantation
800-435-2261 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase
DEBT MANAGEMENT CREDIT COUNSELING CORP
Fort Lauderdale
866-724-3328
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
HISPANIC UNITY OF FLORIDA
Hollywood
954-964-8884-263 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
HOUSING FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
Pembroke Pines
954-923-5001 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
HOUSING FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
PEMBROKE PINES
954-923-5001-1101 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Florida →

Find an Attorney

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

The Florida Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-342-8011

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Broward County residents at no cost.

Florida Rural Legal Services (FRLS) 1-239-334-4554
Legal Services of Greater Miami (LSGMI) 1-305-576-0080
Coast to Coast Legal Aid of South Florida 1-954-736-2400
Community Legal Services of Mid-Florida (CLSMF) 1-800-405-1417
Bay Area Legal Services 1-800-625-2257
Legal Services of North Florida 1-850-385-9007
Three Rivers Legal Services 1-866-256-8091

Self-Help Resources

The Florida Bar — Foreclosure Crisis Help for Consumers Official Florida Bar resource page for homeowners facing foreclosure, including information on finding an attorney, legal aid referrals, and understanding the foreclosure process.
Florida Courts — Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Cases Florida Supreme Court page with information on residential mortgage foreclosure cases, including links to administrative orders, mediation resources, and the Managed Mediation program.
Florida AG — Resources Available to Distressed Homeowners Florida Attorney General's office page with resources for distressed homeowners, including information on mortgage fraud, foreclosure rescue scams, and how to file complaints.
Florida LawHelp Statewide legal aid directory connecting Floridians with free legal information and local legal aid providers for foreclosure prevention and other civil legal needs.

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 Florida →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Broward County, Florida?

    Broward County has a County Distress Index score of 69.5 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 415th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Broward County?

    The primary driver of distress in Broward County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 96.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Broward County compare to neighboring counties?

    Broward County (69.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hendry County, FL (77.7); Miami-Dade County, FL (70.7); Palm Beach County, FL (59.5).

  • 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 Serious 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). Broward County's score of 69.5 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Broward 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 Broward County?

    Broward County, Florida has a population of approximately 1,962,531 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.