Rush County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.0 | 16,847 people · 35th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Rush County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.0 — 1450th 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 35th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Rush County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.2 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Consumer Credit Distress 62.2
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 51
Structural Poverty 39.5
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 57
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Housing Cost Burden 36.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 55
Economic Vitality 30.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Rush County
Rush County, IN 52.0 Elevated —
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious +15.8
Shelby County, IN 55.1 Elevated +3.1
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated -0.7
Decatur County, IN 48.5 Normal -3.5
Hancock County, IN 37.8 Normal -14.2
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -21.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Rush County
Washington County, TX 52.0 Elevated 0.0
Boone County, AR 52.1 Elevated +0.0
Breckinridge County, KY 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Clinton County, OH 52.0 Elevated -0.0
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rush 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 Rush 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 Rush County, Indiana?

    Rush County has a County Distress Index score of 52.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,450th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 35th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rush County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rush County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Rush County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rush County (52.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IN (67.8); Shelby County, IN (55.1); Henry County, IN (51.4).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Rush County's score of 52.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Rush 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 Rush County?

    Rush County, Indiana has a population of approximately 16,847 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.