Miami-Dade County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.7 | 2,686,867 people · 19th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Miami-Dade County's rent-to-income ratio sits at the 99.8th percentile. In a dataset of 3,144 counties, only a handful score higher. Housing Cost Burden overall: 97.7. Nearly every renter in the county is cost-burdened. This is a place where housing takes more than it leaves. The debt numbers confirm what the housing numbers predict. Credit card delinquency sits at the 77th percentile. Bankruptcy filings register at the 89th. Debt in collections hits the 51.8th percentile. And the uninsured rate — 86th percentile — adds a medical debt pathway on top of the housing-driven distress. For a county that functions as one of the hemisphere's most active real estate markets, the gap between the property values and the residents' financial condition is the structural story. Miami-Dade scores 57.5 overall, Elevated, ranking 1,038th nationally and 47th among Florida's 67 counties. Broward County next door scores 59.1. Monroe County (the Keys) manages 52.7. The entire South Florida corridor is Elevated. The difference between Miami's international wealth reputation and its household-level financial data is one of the largest such gaps in the country.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Miami-Dade County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 98.0 — worse than roughly 98% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 98.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 99
Legal Distress 89.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Economic Vitality 76.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 95
Rent-to-Income Ratio 99
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Consumer Credit Distress 66.6
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 77
Uninsured Rate 86
Subprime Credit Population 82
Structural Poverty 26.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 46
Disability Rate 6
Transfer Income Dependency 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County, FL 70.7 Serious —
Broward County, FL 69.5 Serious -1.3
Monroe County, FL 60.8 Elevated -9.9
Collier County, FL 49.8 Normal -20.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Miami-Dade County
Harris County, TX 70.6 Serious -0.1
Hillsborough County, FL 71.5 Serious +0.7
Broward County, FL 69.5 Serious -1.3
Tarrant County, TX 72.6 Serious +1.8
San Bernardino County, CA 68.7 Serious -2.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Miami-Dade County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Miami-Dade County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Miami-Dade County.

CENTRO CAMPESINO, FARMWORKERS CENTER, INC
Florida City
305-245-7738 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
CUBAN AMERICAN NATIONAL COUNCIL, INC. - MIAMI
Miami
305-642-3484 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
HOUSING FOUNDATION OF AMERICA
North Miami
786-842-3843 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
LITTLE HAITI HOUSING ASSOCIATION, INC.
Miami
786-230-3785 Website
Home Improvement/RehabPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-PurchasePre-Purchase
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES OF SOUTH FLORIDA
Miami
305-751-5511 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase

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 Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County, Florida?

    Miami-Dade County has a County Distress Index score of 70.7 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 356th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Miami-Dade County?

    The primary driver of distress in Miami-Dade County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 98.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Miami-Dade County compare to neighboring counties?

    Miami-Dade County (70.7) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Broward County, FL (69.5); Monroe County, FL (60.8); Collier County, FL (49.8).

  • 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). Miami-Dade County's score of 70.7 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Miami-Dade County's CDI score?

    Miami-Dade 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 Miami-Dade County?

    Miami-Dade County, Florida has a population of approximately 2,686,867 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.