Miami County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.7 | 35,402 people · 11th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Miami County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.7 — 906th 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 11th of 92 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Miami County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.6 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 92
Consumer Credit Distress 65.6
Debt in Collections 63
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 64
Structural Poverty 61.6
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Housing Cost Burden 47.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 47
Economic Vitality 42.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 82

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Miami County
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated —
Howard County, IN 65.8 Serious +5.1
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious +5.0
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated -2.7
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated -6.3
Wabash County, IN 44.5 Normal -16.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Miami County
Covington County, MS 60.7 Elevated 0.0
McDonough County, IL 60.7 Elevated -0.0
Butler County, KY 60.7 Elevated +0.0
Carroll County, KY 60.7 Elevated +0.0
Guernsey County, OH 60.7 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Miami 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 Miami 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 Miami County, Indiana?

    Miami County has a County Distress Index score of 60.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 906th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Miami County?

    The primary driver of distress in Miami County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Miami County compare to neighboring counties?

    Miami County (60.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Howard County, IN (65.8); Grant County, IN (65.7); Cass County, IN (58.0).

  • 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). Miami County's score of 60.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Miami 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 Miami County?

    Miami County, Indiana has a population of approximately 35,402 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.