Newton County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.8 | 13,960 people · 27th most distressed in Indiana
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Newton County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.8 — 1354th 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 27th 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. Newton County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.7 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Economic Vitality 77.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 87
Rent-to-Income Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 56
Housing Cost Burden 60.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 18
Consumer Credit Distress 46.3
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 63
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 34.9
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 24
Disability Rate 67
Transfer Income Dependency 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Newton County
Newton County, IN 53.8 Elevated —
Lake County, IN 67.2 Serious +13.5
Kankakee County, IL 60.8 Elevated +7.0
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated -2.4
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -14.4
Iroquois County, IL 36.3 Normal -17.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Newton County
Dade County, GA 53.8 Elevated +0.0
Vinton County, OH 53.7 Elevated -0.0
Union County, KY 53.8 Elevated +0.0
Upshur County, WV 53.7 Elevated -0.0
Polk County, MO 53.8 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Newton 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 Newton 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 Newton County, Indiana?

    Newton County has a County Distress Index score of 53.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,354th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 27th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Newton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Newton County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Newton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Newton County (53.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lake County, IN (67.2); Kankakee County, IL (60.8); Benton County, IN (51.3).

  • 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). Newton County's score of 53.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Newton 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 Newton County?

    Newton County, Indiana has a population of approximately 13,960 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.