Orange County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.7 | 19,638 people · 43rd most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Orange County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.7 — 1591st 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 43rd 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. Orange County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 80.7 — worse than roughly 81% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 80.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 81
Structural Poverty 58.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 75
Child Poverty Rate 49
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Economic Vitality 53.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 81
Housing Cost Burden 44.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 36
Homeownership Rate 25
Consumer Credit Distress 44.1
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 51
Auto Loan Delinquency 41
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 41
Subprime Credit Population 51

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Orange County, IN 49.7 Normal —
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated +9.3
Crawford County, IN 52.3 Elevated +2.6
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal -0.7
Martin County, IN 39.5 Normal -10.2
Dubois County, IN 24.8 Healthy -24.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Orange County
Comanche County, TX 49.8 Normal +0.1
Jefferson County, IA 49.8 Normal +0.1
Barbour County, WV 49.6 Normal -0.1
Franklin County, TN 49.8 Normal +0.1
Custer County, MT 49.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Orange 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 Orange 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 Orange County, Indiana?

    Orange County has a County Distress Index score of 49.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,591st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Orange County?

    The primary driver of distress in Orange County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 80.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Orange County compare to neighboring counties?

    Orange County (49.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Washington County, IN (59.0); Crawford County, IN (52.3); Lawrence County, IN (49.0).

  • 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 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). Orange County's score of 49.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Orange 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 Orange County?

    Orange County, Indiana has a population of approximately 19,638 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.