Highlands County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 72.1 | 107,614 people · 15th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Highlands County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 72.1 — 314th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Florida, it ranks 15th of 67 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Highlands County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 90.2 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 90.2
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 86
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Legal Distress 77.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Economic Vitality 72.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 16
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Housing Cost Burden 71.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 89
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 24
Consumer Credit Distress 66.1
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 84
Uninsured Rate 80
Subprime Credit Population 58

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Highlands County
Highlands County, FL 72.1 Serious —
Osceola County, FL 79.1 Serious +7.1
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious +6.9
Hardee County, FL 78.6 Serious +6.5
DeSoto County, FL 74.9 Serious +2.8
Glades County, FL 69.7 Serious -2.4
Okeechobee County, FL 68.3 Serious -3.7
Charlotte County, FL 55.4 Elevated -16.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Highlands County
Tuscaloosa County, AL 72.1 Serious 0.0
Walker County, TX 72.1 Serious +0.0
Wichita County, TX 72.2 Serious +0.1
Comanche County, OK 71.9 Serious -0.2
Ector County, TX 72.3 Serious +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Highlands County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Highlands County.

FLORIDA NON-PROFIT HOUSING INC
Sebring
863-385-2519 Website
Financial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer EducationRental Help

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 Highlands 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 Highlands County, Florida?

    Highlands County has a County Distress Index score of 72.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 314th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 15th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Highlands County?

    The primary driver of distress in Highlands County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 90.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Highlands County compare to neighboring counties?

    Highlands County (72.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Osceola County, FL (79.1); Polk County, FL (79.0); Hardee County, FL (78.6).

  • 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 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). Highlands County's score of 72.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Highlands 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 Highlands County?

    Highlands County, Florida has a population of approximately 107,614 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.