Decatur County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.5 | 26,399 people · 48th most distressed in Indiana
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Decatur County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.5 — 1676th 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 48th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Decatur County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.3 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 58.1
Debt in Collections 55
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 62
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 54
Economic Vitality 36.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 22
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 73
House Price Change (YoY) 84
Housing Cost Burden 34.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 48
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 46
Structural Poverty 26.5
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 18
Transfer Income Dependency 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Decatur County
Decatur County, IN 48.5 Normal —
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated +10.7
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated +6.6
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated +3.5
Bartholomew County, IN 48.9 Normal +0.3
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal -4.8
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -17.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Decatur County
Adair County, MO 48.5 Normal -0.1
Alleghany County, NC 48.6 Normal +0.1
Monroe County, WV 48.5 Normal -0.1
Madison County, AR 48.6 Normal +0.1
Grant County, WV 48.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Decatur 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 Decatur 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 Decatur County, Indiana?

    Decatur County has a County Distress Index score of 48.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,676th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 48th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Decatur County?

    The primary driver of distress in Decatur County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Decatur County compare to neighboring counties?

    Decatur County (48.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jennings County, IN (59.2); Shelby County, IN (55.1); Rush County, IN (52.0).

  • 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 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). Decatur County's score of 48.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Decatur 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 Decatur County?

    Decatur County, Indiana has a population of approximately 26,399 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.