Parke County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.4 | 16,484 people · 56th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Parke County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.4 — 1819th 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 56th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Parke County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.9 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Structural Poverty 50.5
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Economic Vitality 50.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 67
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Consumer Credit Distress 44.6
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 90
Subprime Credit Population 42
Housing Cost Burden 33.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 30
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 14
Homeownership Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Parke County
Parke County, IN 46.4 Normal —
Vigo County, IN 70.3 Serious +23.9
Vermillion County, IN 52.3 Elevated +5.9
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated +5.5
Clay County, IN 46.6 Normal +0.2
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal -1.9
Fountain County, IN 38.0 Normal -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Parke County
Kent County, MD 46.4 Normal +0.0
Mason County, WV 46.4 Normal +0.0
Red Willow County, NE 46.3 Normal -0.1
Gilmer County, GA 46.5 Normal +0.1
Mason County, IL 46.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Parke 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 Parke 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 Parke County, Indiana?

    Parke County has a County Distress Index score of 46.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,819th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 56th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Parke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Parke County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Parke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Parke County (46.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Vigo County, IN (70.3); Vermillion County, IN (52.3); Montgomery County, IN (51.9).

  • 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). Parke County's score of 46.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Parke 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 Parke County?

    Parke County, Indiana has a population of approximately 16,484 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.