St. Joseph County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.9 | 272,848 people · 13th most distressed in Indiana
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St. Joseph County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.9 — 962nd 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 13th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. St. Joseph County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.4 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Housing Cost Burden 78.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 75
Economic Vitality 57.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 33
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Consumer Credit Distress 54.0
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 43
Subprime Credit Population 56
Structural Poverty 40.6
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Joseph County
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated —
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated +0.1
LaPorte County, IN 58.4 Elevated -1.5
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated -7.3
Berrien County, MI 50.9 Elevated -9.0
Cass County, MI 46.3 Normal -13.6
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Joseph County
Providence County, RI 59.9 Elevated +0.0
Rutherford County, TN 59.9 Elevated +0.0
Forsyth County, NC 60.1 Elevated +0.2
Hamilton County, OH 60.1 Elevated +0.3
Washoe County, NV 59.5 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for St. Joseph County as a CSV file.

Find Help in St. Joseph County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near St. Joseph County.

CITY OF SOUTH BEND
South Bend
574-235-7495 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Indiana →

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 St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County, Indiana?

    St. Joseph County has a County Distress Index score of 59.9 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 962nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in St. Joseph County?

    The primary driver of distress in St. Joseph County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does St. Joseph County compare to neighboring counties?

    St. Joseph County (59.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Elkhart County, IN (60.0); LaPorte County, IN (58.4); 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 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). St. Joseph County's score of 59.9 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power St. Joseph County's CDI score?

    St. Joseph 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 St. Joseph County?

    St. Joseph County, Indiana has a population of approximately 272,848 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.