LaPorte County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.4 | 111,706 people · 20th most distressed in Indiana
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LaPorte County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.4 — 1046th 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 20th of 92 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. LaPorte County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.2 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 58.5
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 59
Economic Vitality 54.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 54
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Housing Cost Burden 54.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 52
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 49
Structural Poverty 49.8
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 36
Transfer Income Dependency 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. LaPorte County
LaPorte County, IN 58.4 Elevated —
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +1.5
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated -5.8
Berrien County, MI 50.9 Elevated -7.5
Porter County, IN 47.3 Normal -11.1
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -19.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. LaPorte County
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated -0.0
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, MI 58.5 Elevated +0.1
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated -0.1
Washington County, MD 58.2 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in LaPorte 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 LaPorte 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 LaPorte County, Indiana?

    LaPorte County has a County Distress Index score of 58.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,046th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in LaPorte County?

    The primary driver of distress in LaPorte County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does LaPorte County compare to neighboring counties?

    LaPorte County (58.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: St. Joseph County, IN (59.9); Starke County, IN (52.5); Berrien County, MI (50.9).

  • 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). LaPorte County's score of 58.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    LaPorte 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 LaPorte County?

    LaPorte County, Indiana has a population of approximately 111,706 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.