Pulaski County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.3 | 12,385 people · 64th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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

Pulaski County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.3 — 1999th 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 64th 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. Pulaski County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Consumer Credit Distress 45.9
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 72
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 25
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 47
Housing Cost Burden 39.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 46
Structural Poverty 37.7
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Economic Vitality 23.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 55

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal —
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated +14.8
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated +11.1
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated +9.3
White County, IN 49.4 Normal +6.1
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -3.9
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal -5.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pulaski County
Iosco County, MI 43.2 Normal -0.0
Clarion County, PA 43.3 Normal +0.0
Yates County, NY 43.3 Normal +0.0
Elmore County, ID 43.4 Normal +0.1
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pulaski 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 Pulaski 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 Pulaski County, Indiana?

    Pulaski County has a County Distress Index score of 43.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,999th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pulaski County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pulaski County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pulaski County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pulaski County (43.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cass County, IN (58.0); Fulton County, IN (54.4); Starke County, IN (52.5).

  • 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). Pulaski County's score of 43.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Pulaski 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 Pulaski County?

    Pulaski County, Indiana has a population of approximately 12,385 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.