Clark County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.1 | 125,467 people · 17th most distressed in Indiana
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Clark County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.1 — 1010th 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 17th of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clark County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 92.2 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 92.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 63.8
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 86
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 67
Housing Cost Burden 60.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 77
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 47
Economic Vitality 54.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Structural Poverty 25.2
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 15
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Clark County, IN 59.1 Elevated —
Scott County, IN 62.7 Elevated +3.6
Jefferson County, KY 61.7 Elevated +2.5
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated -0.1
Jefferson County, IN 52.1 Elevated -7.0
Floyd County, IN 47.3 Normal -11.9
Trimble County, KY 45.9 Normal -13.3
Oldham County, KY 19.6 Healthy -39.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Yuma County, AZ 59.1 Elevated 0.0
Lafourche Parish, LA 59.1 Elevated -0.0
Catoosa County, GA 59.1 Elevated -0.0
Jefferson County, TN 59.0 Elevated -0.1
Chemung County, NY 58.9 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark County, Indiana?

    Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 59.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,010th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clark County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 92.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clark County (59.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Scott County, IN (62.7); Jefferson County, KY (61.7); Washington County, IN (59.0).

  • 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). Clark County's score of 59.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Clark 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 Clark County?

    Clark County, Indiana has a population of approximately 125,467 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.