Lawrence County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.0 | 45,084 people · 46th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Lawrence County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.0 — 1641st 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 46th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lawrence County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 89.3 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 89.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Consumer Credit Distress 47.9
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 54
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 52
Structural Poverty 47.3
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Housing Cost Burden 45.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 19
Economic Vitality 34.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 43

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal —
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated +10.0
Greene County, IN 52.0 Elevated +2.9
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated +2.1
Orange County, IN 49.7 Normal +0.7
Monroe County, IN 48.2 Normal -0.9
Martin County, IN 39.5 Normal -9.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lawrence County
Sullivan County, NH 49.0 Normal -0.0
Gogebic County, MI 49.0 Normal +0.0
Marshall County, KY 49.0 Normal -0.0
Curry County, OR 49.0 Normal -0.0
Rabun County, GA 49.1 Normal +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lawrence County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lawrence County.

HOOSIER UPLANDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Mitchell
812-849-4447 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHomeless/Displacement

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 Lawrence 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 Lawrence County, Indiana?

    Lawrence County has a County Distress Index score of 49.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,641st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lawrence County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lawrence County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 89.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lawrence County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lawrence County (49.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Washington County, IN (59.0); Greene County, IN (52.0); 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 Normal 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). Lawrence County's score of 49.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lawrence 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 Lawrence County?

    Lawrence County, Indiana has a population of approximately 45,084 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.