Montgomery County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.9 | 38,573 people · 38th most distressed in Indiana
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Montgomery County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.9 — 1463rd 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 38th of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.6 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Consumer Credit Distress 59.9
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 61
Housing Cost Burden 47.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 30
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 28
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 45
Economic Vitality 22.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 72
House Price Change (YoY) 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated —
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated +3.9
Parke County, IN 46.4 Normal -5.5
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal -5.8
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal -7.3
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal -7.4
Fountain County, IN 38.0 Normal -13.9
Boone County, IN 28.6 Healthy -23.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Orleans County, NY 51.9 Elevated +0.0
Dawson County, GA 51.8 Elevated -0.0
San Juan County, UT 51.9 Elevated +0.1
Coles County, IL 51.9 Elevated +0.1
Branch County, MI 51.8 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Indiana?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 51.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,463rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 38th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (51.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Tippecanoe County, IN (55.8); Parke County, IN (46.4); Clinton County, IN (46.1).

  • 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 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). Montgomery County's score of 51.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Indiana has a population of approximately 38,573 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.