Noble County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.3 | 47,430 people · 50th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Noble County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.3 — 1758th 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 50th of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Noble County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 72.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 72.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 73
Consumer Credit Distress 54.2
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 67
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 75
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 40.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 55
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 40
Economic Vitality 35.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 60
Structural Poverty 29.1
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 25
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 27
Transfer Income Dependency 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Noble County
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal —
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated +12.7
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +6.4
Kosciusko County, IN 46.5 Normal -0.8
Steuben County, IN 40.0 Normal -7.3
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal -8.9
Whitley County, IN 32.3 Healthy -15.0
LaGrange County, IN 25.3 Healthy -22.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Noble County
Adams County, WI 47.3 Normal -0.0
Braxton County, WV 47.2 Normal -0.1
Nelson County, KY 47.2 Normal -0.1
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal +0.1
Young County, TX 47.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Noble 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 Noble 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Noble County, Indiana?

    Noble County has a County Distress Index score of 47.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,758th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Noble County?

    The primary driver of distress in Noble County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 72.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Noble County compare to neighboring counties?

    Noble County (47.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Elkhart County, IN (60.0); Allen County, IN (53.7); Kosciusko County, IN (46.5).

  • 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). Noble County's score of 47.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Noble 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 Noble County?

    Noble County, Indiana has a population of approximately 47,430 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.