Union County, Florida

County Distress Index: Elevated · 62.6 | 15,532 people · 44th most distressed in Florida
American Default Research

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Union County, FL registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 62.6 — 794th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Florida, it ranks 44th of 67 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 82.3 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 82.3
Debt in Collections 95
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 95
Uninsured Rate 62
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 77.9
Unemployment Rate 92
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 76
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 53.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 7
Legal Distress 48.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Housing Cost Burden 19.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 17
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 54

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, FL 62.6 Elevated —
Bradford County, FL 78.0 Serious +15.4
Columbia County, FL 71.0 Serious +8.4
Baker County, FL 67.7 Serious +5.1
Alachua County, FL 60.5 Elevated -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Garvin County, OK 62.6 Elevated -0.0
Des Moines County, IA 62.6 Elevated +0.0
Benton County, MO 62.5 Elevated -0.1
Titus County, TX 62.6 Elevated +0.1
Osage County, OK 62.7 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union County

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 Union 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 Union County, Florida?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 62.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 794th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Florida out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 82.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (62.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Bradford County, FL (78.0); Columbia County, FL (71.0); Baker County, FL (67.7).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Union County's score of 62.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, Florida has a population of approximately 15,532 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.