Marion County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.0 | 968,460 people · 1st most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Marion County, IN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.0 — 265th 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 1st of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marion County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Housing Cost Burden 86.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 96
Consumer Credit Distress 79.2
Debt in Collections 78
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 86
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 85
Economic Vitality 44.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 33
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 55
Structural Poverty 37.8
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 64
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Marion County, IN 73.0 Serious —
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated -17.9
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated -19.6
Johnson County, IN 46.7 Normal -26.4
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal -28.6
Hancock County, IN 37.8 Normal -35.2
Boone County, IN 28.6 Healthy -44.5
Hamilton County, IN 24.2 Healthy -48.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marion County
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious +0.2
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 72.6 Serious -0.4
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious +0.5
Bell County, TX 72.5 Serious -0.6
Escambia County, FL 73.6 Serious +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marion County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Marion County.

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF GREATER INDIANAPOLIS
Indianapolis
317-777-6084 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase
INDIANAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING PARTNERSHIP
Indianapolis
317-610-0464 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
INDIANAPOLIS NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING PARTNERSHIP HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER AT GLENDALE
INDIANAPOLIS
317-610-4663 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
INTEND INDIANA, INC
Indianapolis
317-924-8116-141 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
NID-HCA MARION COUNTY
INDIANAPOLIS
833-364-3422 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/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 Marion 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 Marion County, Indiana?

    Marion County has a County Distress Index score of 73.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 265th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 1st in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marion County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marion County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marion County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marion County (73.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Shelby County, IN (55.1); Morgan County, IN (53.4); Johnson County, IN (46.7).

  • 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). Marion County's score of 73.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Marion 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 Marion County?

    Marion County, Indiana has a population of approximately 968,460 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.