Gibson County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.4 | 32,904 people · 80th most distressed in Indiana
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Gibson County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.4 — 2398th 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 80th of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gibson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.5 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Consumer Credit Distress 38.2
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 31.8
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 47
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Economic Vitality 25.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 1
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Housing Cost Burden 25.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 43

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gibson County
Gibson County, IN 36.4 Normal —
Vanderburgh County, IN 59.8 Elevated +23.4
Knox County, IN 53.8 Elevated +17.4
Wabash County, IL 43.5 Normal +7.1
White County, IL 41.5 Normal +5.1
Pike County, IN 39.3 Normal +2.9
Posey County, IN 30.3 Healthy -6.1
Warrick County, IN 28.2 Healthy -8.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gibson County
Hubbard County, MN 36.4 Normal -0.0
Juneau County, WI 36.4 Normal -0.0
Sagadahoc County, ME 36.4 Normal -0.0
Miami County, KS 36.5 Normal +0.0
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gibson 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 Gibson 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 Gibson County, Indiana?

    Gibson County has a County Distress Index score of 36.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,398th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 80th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gibson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gibson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gibson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gibson County (36.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Vanderburgh County, IN (59.8); Knox County, IN (53.8); Wabash County, IL (43.5).

  • 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). Gibson County's score of 36.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gibson 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 Gibson County?

    Gibson County, Indiana has a population of approximately 32,904 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.