Cass County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.0 | 37,666 people · 21st most distressed in Indiana
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Cass County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.0 — 1070th 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 21st of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cass County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 71.8
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 72
Credit Card Delinquency 87
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 65
Structural Poverty 61.7
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 89
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 73
Economic Vitality 45.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 59
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Housing Cost Burden 27.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 12
Homeownership Rate 45

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated —
Howard County, IN 65.8 Serious +7.7
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated +2.7
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated -3.6
White County, IN 49.4 Normal -8.6
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal -14.8
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal -21.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
San Miguel County, NM 58.0 Elevated 0.0
Williamsburg city, VA 58.0 Elevated -0.0
Abbeville County, SC 58.0 Elevated -0.0
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated +0.1
Bourbon County, KS 58.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cass 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 Cass 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 Cass County, Indiana?

    Cass County has a County Distress Index score of 58.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,070th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cass County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cass County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cass County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cass County (58.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Howard County, IN (65.8); Miami County, IN (60.7); Fulton County, IN (54.4).

  • 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). Cass County's score of 58.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Cass 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 Cass County?

    Cass County, Indiana has a population of approximately 37,666 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.