Jefferson County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.1 | 33,056 people · 34th most distressed in Indiana
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Jefferson County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.1 — 1446th 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 34th 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. Jefferson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.1 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 56.5
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 56
Subprime Credit Population 59
Structural Poverty 53.4
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 80
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Housing Cost Burden 40.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 23
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 73
Economic Vitality 33.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, IN 52.1 Elevated —
Scott County, IN 62.7 Elevated +10.6
Carroll County, KY 60.7 Elevated +8.6
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated +7.1
Clark County, IN 59.1 Elevated +7.0
Switzerland County, IN 55.5 Elevated +3.4
Trimble County, KY 45.9 Normal -6.3
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Leon County, TX 52.1 Elevated +0.0
Clay County, NC 52.1 Elevated +0.0
Boone County, AR 52.1 Elevated -0.0
Wexford County, MI 52.2 Elevated +0.1
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Indiana?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 52.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,446th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (52.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Scott County, IN (62.7); Carroll County, KY (60.7); Jennings County, IN (59.2).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 52.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Indiana has a population of approximately 33,056 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.