Howard County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 65.8 | 83,831 people · 7th most distressed in Indiana
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Howard County, IN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 65.8 — 606th 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 7th of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Howard County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.9 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Housing Cost Burden 69.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 78
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 63
Consumer Credit Distress 67.6
Debt in Collections 70
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 81
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 60
Structural Poverty 60.8
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 51
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 35.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 50
House Price Change (YoY) 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Howard County
Howard County, IN 65.8 Serious —
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious -0.1
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated -5.1
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated -7.7
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal -19.7
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal -29.3
Tipton County, IN 33.8 Healthy -32.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Howard County
Mahoning County, OH 65.8 Serious +0.0
Harrison County, TX 65.9 Serious +0.1
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious -0.1
Nye County, NV 66.0 Serious +0.2
Pearl River County, MS 65.6 Serious -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Howard 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 Howard 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 Howard County, Indiana?

    Howard County has a County Distress Index score of 65.8 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 606th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Howard County?

    The primary driver of distress in Howard County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Howard County compare to neighboring counties?

    Howard County (65.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grant County, IN (65.7); Miami County, IN (60.7); Cass County, IN (58.0).

  • 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). Howard County's score of 65.8 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Howard 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 Howard County?

    Howard County, Indiana has a population of approximately 83,831 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.