Hancock County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.8 | 86,166 people · 77th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Hancock County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.8 — 2324th 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 77th 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. Hancock County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.7 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Economic Vitality 52.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 83
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Business Formation Rate 26
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Consumer Credit Distress 37.0
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 42
Housing Cost Burden 36.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 18
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 21
Structural Poverty 8.4
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Hancock County, IN 37.8 Normal —
Marion County, IN 73.0 Serious +35.2
Madison County, IN 65.3 Serious +27.5
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated +17.3
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated +14.2
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated +13.5
Hamilton County, IN 24.2 Healthy -13.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hancock County
Orange County, NC 37.9 Normal +0.1
El Dorado County, CA 37.7 Normal -0.2
Armstrong County, PA 38.0 Normal +0.2
Ward County, ND 37.5 Normal -0.3
Linn County, IA 38.1 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hancock 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 Hancock 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 Hancock County, Indiana?

    Hancock County has a County Distress Index score of 37.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,324th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 77th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hancock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hancock County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hancock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hancock County (37.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, IN (73.0); Madison County, IN (65.3); Shelby County, IN (55.1).

  • 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 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). Hancock County's score of 37.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hancock 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 Hancock County?

    Hancock County, Indiana has a population of approximately 86,166 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.