Carroll County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.5 | 20,525 people · 79th most distressed in Indiana
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Carroll County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.5 — 2393rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Indiana, it ranks 79th of 92 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carroll County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 56.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 56.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 57
Consumer Credit Distress 47.2
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 68
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 38
Economic Vitality 35.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 7
Business Formation Rate 62
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Structural Poverty 21.4
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 14
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 27
Housing Cost Burden 16.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 12
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal —
Howard County, IN 65.8 Serious +29.3
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated +21.6
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated +19.3
White County, IN 49.4 Normal +12.9
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal +9.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carroll County
Miami County, KS 36.5 Normal -0.0
Gibson County, IN 36.4 Normal -0.0
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal +0.1
Hubbard County, MN 36.4 Normal -0.1
Juneau County, WI 36.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Carroll 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 Carroll 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 Carroll County, Indiana?

    Carroll County has a County Distress Index score of 36.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,393rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 79th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carroll County?

    The primary driver of distress in Carroll County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 56.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Carroll County compare to neighboring counties?

    Carroll County (36.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Howard County, IN (65.8); Cass County, IN (58.0); Tippecanoe County, IN (55.8).

  • 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 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). Carroll County's score of 36.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Carroll 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 Carroll County?

    Carroll County, Indiana has a population of approximately 20,525 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.