Osceola County, Florida

County Distress Index: Serious · 79.1 | 437,784 people · 2nd most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Osceola County, FL shows significant household financial distress with a score of 79.1 — 81st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Florida, it ranks 2nd of 67 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Osceola County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 95.7 — worse than roughly 96% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 95.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 82
Legal Distress 88.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 82.6
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 94
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 93
Economic Vitality 80.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Structural Poverty 34.3
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 28
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 31
Disability Rate 26
Transfer Income Dependency 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Osceola County
Osceola County, FL 79.1 Serious —
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious -0.2
Orange County, FL 73.9 Serious -5.3
Highlands County, FL 72.1 Serious -7.1
Okeechobee County, FL 68.3 Serious -10.8
Lake County, FL 65.0 Serious -14.1
Brevard County, FL 61.0 Elevated -18.1
Indian River County, FL 53.0 Elevated -26.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Osceola County
Hidalgo County, TX 79.2 Serious +0.1
Chatham County, GA 79.0 Serious -0.1
Polk County, FL 79.0 Serious -0.2
Webb County, TX 78.4 Serious -0.8
Henry County, GA 78.3 Serious -0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Osceola County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Osceola County.

COMMUNITY LEGAL SERVICES OF MID-FLORIDA, INC. - KISSIMMEE OFFICE
Kissimmee
386-255-6573 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA/FLORIDA COOPERATIVE EXTENSION - OSCEOLA COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE
Kissimmee
321-697-3000 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-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 Osceola 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 Osceola County, Florida?

    Osceola County has a County Distress Index score of 79.1 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 81st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Osceola County?

    The primary driver of distress in Osceola County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 95.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Osceola County compare to neighboring counties?

    Osceola County (79.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Polk County, FL (79.0); Orange County, FL (73.9); Highlands County, FL (72.1).

  • 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). Osceola County's score of 79.1 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Osceola 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 Osceola County?

    Osceola County, Florida has a population of approximately 437,784 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.