Marshall County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.0 | 46,352 people · 74th most distressed in Indiana
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Marshall County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.0 — 2310th 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 74th of 92 counties. It scores lower 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. Marshall County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 74.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 74.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Consumer Credit Distress 38.1
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 60
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 24
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 32
Housing Cost Burden 37.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 38
Economic Vitality 28.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Structural Poverty 25.8
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 17
Transfer Income Dependency 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal —
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated +22.0
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +21.8
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated +16.4
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated +14.5
Kosciusko County, IN 46.5 Normal +8.5
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal +5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Fountain County, IN 38.0 Normal -0.0
Delta County, MI 38.0 Normal -0.1
Crawford County, IA 38.0 Normal -0.1
Daviess County, IN 37.9 Normal -0.1
Klickitat County, WA 38.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Marshall 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 Marshall 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 Marshall County, Indiana?

    Marshall County has a County Distress Index score of 38.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,310th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marshall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marshall County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 74.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Marshall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marshall County (38.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Elkhart County, IN (60.0); St. Joseph County, IN (59.9); Fulton County, IN (54.4).

  • 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). Marshall County's score of 38.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Marshall 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 Marshall County?

    Marshall County, Indiana has a population of approximately 46,352 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.