Lake County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.2 | 500,598 people · 5th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Lake County, IN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.2 — 534th 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 5th 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. Lake County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 96.8 — worse than roughly 97% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 96.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 97
Housing Cost Burden 78.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 67
Consumer Credit Distress 66.5
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 83
Credit Card Delinquency 71
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 74
Economic Vitality 53.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 66
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 57
Structural Poverty 43.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 61
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious —
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated -6.4
Cook County, IL 57.7 Elevated -9.5
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated -13.5
Porter County, IN 47.3 Normal -19.9
Will County, IL 44.7 Normal -22.5
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -27.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Camden County, NJ 67.3 Serious +0.0
Atlantic County, NJ 66.9 Serious -0.3
Milwaukee County, WI 67.6 Serious +0.4
Lucas County, OH 66.8 Serious -0.4
Merced County, CA 67.7 Serious +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lake County.

CITY OF GARY DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Gary
219-881-5075-6753 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling
HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES, INC dba CoACTION
Crown Point
800-826-7871
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/Rehab
NORTHWEST INDIANA REINVESTMENT ALLIANCE
Hammond
219-750-1206
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

See all counselors in Indiana →

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 Lake 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Indiana →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lake County, Indiana?

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 67.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 534th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 96.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (67.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Kankakee County, IL (60.8); Cook County, IL (57.7); Newton County, IN (53.8).

  • 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). Lake County's score of 67.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Lake 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Indiana has a population of approximately 500,598 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.