Fayette County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.8 | 23,362 people · 4th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Fayette County, IN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.8 — 505th 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 4th of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fayette County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.9 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Housing Cost Burden 76.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 68
Structural Poverty 71.8
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 68
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 91
Consumer Credit Distress 62.1
Debt in Collections 73
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 68
Economic Vitality 53.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious —
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious -1.5
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated -15.8
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated -16.5
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal -31.2
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -37.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fayette County
Crawford County, GA 67.8 Serious -0.0
Adams County, OH 67.9 Serious +0.1
Jackson County, KY 67.9 Serious +0.1
Arkansas County, AR 67.9 Serious +0.1
Montague County, TX 67.9 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fayette 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 Fayette 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 Fayette County, Indiana?

    Fayette County has a County Distress Index score of 67.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 505th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fayette County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fayette County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Fayette County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fayette County (67.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wayne County, IN (66.3); Rush County, IN (52.0); Henry County, IN (51.4).

  • 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 Serious 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). Fayette County's score of 67.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Fayette 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 Fayette County?

    Fayette County, Indiana has a population of approximately 23,362 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.