Benton County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.3 | 8,729 people · 41st most distressed in Indiana
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Benton County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.3 — 1494th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Indiana, it ranks 41st of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Benton County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 67.8 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 67.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 67
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Legal Distress 54.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 55
Consumer Credit Distress 52.4
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 48.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 39
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 78
Homeownership Rate 17
Structural Poverty 39.0
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated —
Vermilion County, IL 58.1 Elevated +6.8
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated +4.4
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated +2.4
White County, IN 49.4 Normal -1.9
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -12.0
Iroquois County, IL 36.3 Normal -15.1
Warren County, IN 35.8 Normal -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Benton County
Jackson County, SD 51.3 Elevated -0.0
Dallam County, TX 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Musselshell County, MT 51.2 Elevated -0.2
Lynn County, TX 51.1 Elevated -0.2
Cottle County, TX 51.6 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Benton 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 Benton 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 Benton County, Indiana?

    Benton County has a County Distress Index score of 51.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,494th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Benton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Benton County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 67.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Benton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Benton County (51.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Vermilion County, IL (58.1); Tippecanoe County, IN (55.8); Newton County, IN (53.8).

  • 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 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). Benton County's score of 51.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Benton 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 Benton County?

    Benton County, Indiana has a population of approximately 8,729 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.