Hendricks County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.5 | 186,387 people · 61st most distressed in Indiana
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Hendricks County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.5 — 1930th 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 61st of 92 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hendricks County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.9 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Economic Vitality 55.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 88
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 17
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Housing Cost Burden 53.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 30
Consumer Credit Distress 43.1
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 42
Structural Poverty 3.8
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hendricks County
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal —
Marion County, IN 73.0 Serious +28.6
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +9.0
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated +7.4
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal +0.1
Boone County, IN 28.6 Healthy -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hendricks County
Whiteside County, IL 44.4 Normal -0.1
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal -0.1
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal +0.1
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal -0.2
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hendricks 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 Hendricks 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 Hendricks County, Indiana?

    Hendricks County has a County Distress Index score of 44.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,930th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hendricks County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hendricks County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hendricks County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hendricks County (44.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Marion County, IN (73.0); Morgan County, IN (53.4); Montgomery County, IN (51.9).

  • 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). Hendricks County's score of 44.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hendricks 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 Hendricks County?

    Hendricks County, Indiana has a population of approximately 186,387 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.