Bartholomew County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.9 | 84,003 people · 47th most distressed in Indiana
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Bartholomew County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.9 — 1654th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Indiana, it ranks 47th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bartholomew County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.7 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 62.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 71
Consumer Credit Distress 47.4
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 46
Economic Vitality 39.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 51
Business Formation Rate 37
House Price Change (YoY) 48
Structural Poverty 18.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bartholomew County
Bartholomew County, IN 48.9 Normal —
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated +10.4
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated +6.3
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated +2.3
Brown County, IN 49.1 Normal +0.3
Decatur County, IN 48.5 Normal -0.3
Johnson County, IN 46.7 Normal -2.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bartholomew County
Ulster County, NY 48.9 Normal +0.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.8 Normal -0.0
Niagara County, NY 48.8 Normal -0.1
Cambria County, PA 48.8 Normal -0.1
Saline County, KS 49.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bartholomew County

Find an Attorney

Indiana State Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Indiana State Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service 317-639-5465

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Bartholomew County residents at no cost.

Indiana Legal Services (ILS) 317-631-9410 (Indianapolis); 1-888-529-4917 (statewide hotline)
Legal Aid Society of Tippecanoe County 765-742-1050
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic 317-429-4131

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Bartholomew County, Indiana?

    Bartholomew County has a County Distress Index score of 48.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,654th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bartholomew County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bartholomew County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bartholomew County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bartholomew County (48.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jennings County, IN (59.2); Shelby County, IN (55.1); Jackson County, IN (51.1).

  • 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 Normal 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). Bartholomew County's score of 48.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Bartholomew 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 Bartholomew County?

    Bartholomew County, Indiana has a population of approximately 84,003 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.