Dearborn County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.5 | 51,215 people · 65th most distressed in Indiana
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Dearborn County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.5 — 2043rd 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 65th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dearborn County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 72.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 72.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Economic Vitality 65.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Consumer Credit Distress 42.3
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 32
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 39
Housing Cost Burden 38.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 4
Structural Poverty 17.3
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 7
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dearborn County
Dearborn County, IN 42.5 Normal —
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +17.7
Ohio County, IN 59.8 Elevated +17.3
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +10.6
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal +1.2
Boone County, KY 42.5 Normal +0.1
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -11.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dearborn County
Northwest Hills Planning Region, CT 42.5 Normal -0.0
Boone County, KY 42.5 Normal +0.1
Hancock County, ME 42.4 Normal -0.1
Knox County, OH 42.4 Normal -0.1
Jefferson County, MO 42.6 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dearborn 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 Dearborn 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 Dearborn County, Indiana?

    Dearborn County has a County Distress Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,043rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 65th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dearborn County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dearborn County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 72.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dearborn County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dearborn County (42.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hamilton County, OH (60.1); Ohio County, IN (59.8); Butler County, OH (53.1).

  • 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). Dearborn County's score of 42.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Dearborn 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 Dearborn County?

    Dearborn County, Indiana has a population of approximately 51,215 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.