Jay County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.4 | 20,032 people · 39th most distressed in Indiana
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Jay County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.4 — 1488th 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 39th of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jay County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 55.2
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 63
Subprime Credit Population 49
Structural Poverty 52.5
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 46
Housing Cost Burden 40.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 29
Economic Vitality 39.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jay County
Jay County, IN 51.4 Elevated —
Delaware County, IN 68.6 Serious +17.2
Blackford County, IN 58.7 Elevated +7.3
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated +0.6
Wells County, IN 39.8 Normal -11.7
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -13.1
Adams County, IN 34.8 Healthy -16.6
Mercer County, OH 24.0 Healthy -27.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jay County
Cowley County, KS 51.4 Elevated -0.0
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated -0.1
Silver Bow County, MT 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Noble County, OK 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Clinton County, PA 51.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jay 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 Jay 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 Jay County, Indiana?

    Jay County has a County Distress Index score of 51.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,488th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 39th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jay County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jay County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jay County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jay County (51.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Delaware County, IN (68.6); Blackford County, IN (58.7); Randolph County, IN (52.0).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Jay County's score of 51.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jay 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 Jay County?

    Jay County, Indiana has a population of approximately 20,032 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.