Putnam County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.5 | 37,567 people · 60th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Putnam County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.5 — 1927th 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 60th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Putnam County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.2 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Consumer Credit Distress 47.6
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 52
Housing Cost Burden 39.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 70
Homeownership Rate 54
Economic Vitality 38.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Structural Poverty 27.9
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 29
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal —
Morgan County, IN 53.4 Elevated +8.9
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated +7.3
Clay County, IN 46.6 Normal +2.1
Parke County, IN 46.4 Normal +1.9
Owen County, IN 45.5 Normal +1.0
Hendricks County, IN 44.5 Normal -0.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Putnam County
Minidoka County, ID 44.5 Normal 0.0
Wabash County, IN 44.5 Normal +0.0
Allegany County, NY 44.6 Normal +0.1
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal -0.1
Christian County, IL 44.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Putnam 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 Putnam 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 Putnam County, Indiana?

    Putnam County has a County Distress Index score of 44.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,927th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 60th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Putnam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Putnam County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Putnam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Putnam County (44.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Morgan County, IN (53.4); Montgomery County, IN (51.9); Clay County, IN (46.6).

  • 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). Putnam County's score of 44.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Putnam 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 Putnam County?

    Putnam County, Indiana has a population of approximately 37,567 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.