Elkhart County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.0 | 206,409 people · 12th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Elkhart County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.0 — 949th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Indiana, it ranks 12th of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Elkhart County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.3 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 81
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 66
Legal Distress 76.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Consumer Credit Distress 64.0
Debt in Collections 56
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 87
Subprime Credit Population 60
Economic Vitality 35.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 43
House Price Change (YoY) 26
Structural Poverty 27.4
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 17
Transfer Income Dependency 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Elkhart County
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated —
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated -0.1
St. Joseph County, MI 47.4 Normal -12.6
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal -12.7
Kosciusko County, IN 46.5 Normal -13.5
Cass County, MI 46.3 Normal -13.7
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal -22.0
LaGrange County, IN 25.3 Healthy -34.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Elkhart County
Garfield County, OK 60.0 Elevated -0.0
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated -0.1
Kanawha County, WV 60.1 Elevated +0.1
Aiken County, SC 59.9 Elevated -0.1
Lafayette County, MS 60.1 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Elkhart County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Elkhart County.

LACASA OF GOSHEN INC - BRANCH OFFICE
Elkhart
574-533-4450 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase
LACASA OF GOSHEN, INC.
Goshen
574-533-4450x72 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Indiana →

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 Elkhart 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Elkhart County has a County Distress Index score of 60.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 949th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 12th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Elkhart County?

    The primary driver of distress in Elkhart County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Elkhart County compare to neighboring counties?

    Elkhart County (60.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: St. Joseph County, IN (59.9); St. Joseph County, MI (47.4); 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 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). Elkhart County's score of 60.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Elkhart 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 Elkhart County?

    Elkhart County, Indiana has a population of approximately 206,409 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.