DeKalb County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.4 | 44,198 people · 72nd most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

DeKalb County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.4 — 2285th 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 72nd 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. DeKalb County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.2 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 40.8
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 42
Housing Cost Burden 33.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 10
Structural Poverty 29.5
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Economic Vitality 17.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 4
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal —
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +15.3
Williams County, OH 49.5 Normal +11.1
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal +8.9
Steuben County, IN 40.0 Normal +1.6
Defiance County, OH 39.6 Normal +1.2
LaGrange County, IN 25.3 Healthy -13.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. DeKalb County
Spencer County, KY 38.5 Normal +0.0
Wayne County, IL 38.4 Normal -0.0
Steele County, MN 38.5 Normal +0.1
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal -0.2
Warren County, VA 38.2 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in DeKalb 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 DeKalb 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Indiana →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for DeKalb County, Indiana?

    DeKalb County has a County Distress Index score of 38.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,285th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in DeKalb County?

    The primary driver of distress in DeKalb County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does DeKalb County compare to neighboring counties?

    DeKalb County (38.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Allen County, IN (53.7); Williams County, OH (49.5); Noble County, IN (47.3).

  • 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). DeKalb County's score of 38.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    DeKalb 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 DeKalb County?

    DeKalb County, Indiana has a population of approximately 44,198 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.