Blackford County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.7 | 11,893 people · 19th most distressed in Indiana
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Blackford County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.7 — 1035th 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 19th of 92 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Blackford County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.9 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Structural Poverty 73.6
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 93
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 89
Transfer Income Dependency 88
Economic Vitality 57.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Consumer Credit Distress 56.1
Debt in Collections 62
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 46
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 54
Housing Cost Burden 44.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 67
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 54

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Blackford County
Blackford County, IN 58.7 Elevated —
Delaware County, IN 68.6 Serious +9.9
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious +7.0
Jay County, IN 51.4 Elevated -7.3
Wells County, IN 39.8 Normal -19.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Blackford County
Hart County, KY 58.8 Elevated +0.0
Meigs County, OH 58.8 Elevated +0.0
Alamosa County, CO 58.7 Elevated -0.0
Cedar County, MO 58.8 Elevated +0.1
Perry County, OH 58.8 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Blackford 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 Blackford 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 Blackford County, Indiana?

    Blackford County has a County Distress Index score of 58.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,035th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Blackford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Blackford County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Blackford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Blackford County (58.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Delaware County, IN (68.6); Grant County, IN (65.7); Jay County, IN (51.4).

  • 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). Blackford County's score of 58.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Blackford 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 Blackford County?

    Blackford County, Indiana has a population of approximately 11,893 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.