Monroe County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.2 | 139,342 people · 49th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Monroe County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.2 — 1701st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Indiana, it ranks 49th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monroe County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 93.9 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 93.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 99
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 99
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 97
Economic Vitality 57.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 74
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 66
Legal Distress 43.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 43
Structural Poverty 36.7
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Consumer Credit Distress 29.0
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 47
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 21
Subprime Credit Population 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Monroe County, IN 48.2 Normal —
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +5.2
Greene County, IN 52.0 Elevated +3.8
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated +2.9
Brown County, IN 49.1 Normal +0.9
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal +0.9
Owen County, IN 45.5 Normal -2.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Ionia County, MI 48.2 Normal +0.0
Kenton County, KY 48.0 Normal -0.1
Columbia County, GA 48.0 Normal -0.2
Beaufort County, SC 48.4 Normal +0.2
Warren County, NY 48.4 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Monroe County.

CITY OF BLOOMINGTON - HOUSING AND NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT (HAND)
Bloomington
812-349-3420 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHomeless/DisplacementPost-PurchasePre-Lease/Pre-Purchase

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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, Indiana?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 48.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,701st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 93.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (48.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Morgan County, IN (53.4); 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). Monroe County's score of 48.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Monroe 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, Indiana has a population of approximately 139,342 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.