Jennings County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.2 | 27,622 people · 16th most distressed in Indiana
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Jennings County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.2 — 1004th 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 16th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jennings County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.1 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 63.9
Debt in Collections 64
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 71
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 71
Structural Poverty 60.0
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 81
Housing Cost Burden 46.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 65
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 24
Economic Vitality 36.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jennings County
Jennings County, IN 59.2 Elevated —
Scott County, IN 62.7 Elevated +3.5
Jefferson County, IN 52.1 Elevated -7.1
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated -8.1
Bartholomew County, IN 48.9 Normal -10.4
Decatur County, IN 48.5 Normal -10.7
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal -15.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jennings County
Rhea County, TN 59.2 Elevated 0.0
Fleming County, KY 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Izard County, AR 59.2 Elevated -0.0
Coosa County, AL 59.2 Elevated +0.0
Henry County, TN 59.2 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jennings 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 Jennings 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 Jennings County, Indiana?

    Jennings County has a County Distress Index score of 59.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,004th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jennings County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jennings County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jennings County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jennings County (59.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Scott County, IN (62.7); Jefferson County, IN (52.1); Jackson County, IN (51.1).

  • 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 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). Jennings County's score of 59.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jennings 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 Jennings County?

    Jennings County, Indiana has a population of approximately 27,622 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.