Crawford County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.3 | 10,438 people · 33rd most distressed in Indiana
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Crawford County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.3 — 1435th 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 33rd of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Crawford County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.2 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Structural Poverty 74.6
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 75
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Economic Vitality 64.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 62
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Consumer Credit Distress 50.4
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 78
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 41
Housing Cost Burden 30.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 28
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Crawford County, IN 52.3 Elevated —
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated +6.8
Meade County, KY 50.0 Normal -2.3
Orange County, IN 49.7 Normal -2.6
Perry County, IN 43.4 Normal -8.9
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal -14.0
Dubois County, IN 24.8 Healthy -27.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Crawford County
Vermillion County, IN 52.3 Elevated +0.0
Todd County, KY 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Fremont County, WY 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Roscommon County, MI 52.2 Elevated -0.1
Wexford County, MI 52.2 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Crawford 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 Crawford 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 Crawford County, Indiana?

    Crawford County has a County Distress Index score of 52.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,435th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 33rd in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Crawford County?

    The primary driver of distress in Crawford County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Crawford County compare to neighboring counties?

    Crawford County (52.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Washington County, IN (59.0); Meade County, KY (50.0); Orange County, IN (49.7).

  • 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). Crawford County's score of 52.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Crawford 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 Crawford County?

    Crawford County, Indiana has a population of approximately 10,438 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.