Knox County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.8 | 36,070 people · 26th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Knox County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.8 — 1349th 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 26th of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Knox County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Structural Poverty 61.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 66
Income vs. State Median 83
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Consumer Credit Distress 57.7
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 76
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 69
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 59
Economic Vitality 42.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 40
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Housing Cost Burden 41.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 37
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 82

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Knox County, IN 53.8 Elevated —
Sullivan County, IN 53.4 Elevated -0.4
Greene County, IN 52.0 Elevated -1.9
Lawrence County, IL 44.2 Normal -9.6
Wabash County, IL 43.5 Normal -10.3
Pike County, IN 39.3 Normal -14.5
Daviess County, IN 37.9 Normal -15.9
Gibson County, IN 36.4 Normal -17.4
Crawford County, IL 30.6 Healthy -23.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Knox County
Polk County, MO 53.8 Elevated -0.0
Union County, KY 53.8 Elevated -0.0
Wright County, MO 53.9 Elevated +0.0
Yell County, AR 53.9 Elevated +0.0
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Knox 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 Knox 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 Knox County, Indiana?

    Knox County has a County Distress Index score of 53.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,349th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Knox County?

    The primary driver of distress in Knox County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Knox County compare to neighboring counties?

    Knox County (53.8) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Sullivan County, IN (53.4); Greene County, IN (52.0); Lawrence County, IL (44.2).

  • 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). Knox County's score of 53.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Knox 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 Knox County?

    Knox County, Indiana has a population of approximately 36,070 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.