Franklin County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.7 | 23,096 people · 85th most distressed in Indiana
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Franklin County, IN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.7 — 2722nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Indiana, it ranks 85th of 92 counties. It scores lower than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 52.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 52.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 40.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 12
Legal Distress 36.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Consumer Credit Distress 23.8
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Uninsured Rate 40
Subprime Credit Population 21
Structural Poverty 21.6
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy —
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious +37.2
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +29.5
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +22.4
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated +21.4
Decatur County, IN 48.5 Normal +17.9
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal +13.0
Dearborn County, IN 42.5 Normal +11.8
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal +6.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Emery County, UT 30.7 Healthy 0.0
Crawford County, IL 30.6 Healthy -0.0
Pend Oreille County, WA 30.7 Healthy +0.0
Becker County, MN 30.7 Healthy +0.1
Camden County, NC 30.8 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Indiana?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 30.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,722nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 85th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 52.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (30.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IN (67.8); Hamilton County, OH (60.1); 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 Healthy 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). Franklin County's score of 30.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Indiana has a population of approximately 23,096 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.