Starke County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 52.5 | 23,206 people · 31st most distressed in Indiana
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Starke County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 52.5 — 1425th 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 31st of 92 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Starke County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.7 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Structural Poverty 65.7
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 47
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 53
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 85
Consumer Credit Distress 54.8
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 61
Auto Loan Delinquency 48
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 56
Economic Vitality 49.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 25
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Housing Cost Burden 29.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 33
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Starke County
Starke County, IN 52.5 Elevated —
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +7.3
LaPorte County, IN 58.4 Elevated +5.8
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated +1.9
Porter County, IN 47.3 Normal -5.3
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal -9.3
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -13.2
Marshall County, IN 38.0 Normal -14.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Starke County
Northampton County, VA 52.6 Elevated +0.0
Morgan County, GA 52.6 Elevated +0.1
Cannon County, TN 52.7 Elevated +0.1
Overton County, TN 52.4 Elevated -0.1
Tallapoosa County, AL 52.7 Elevated +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Starke 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 Starke 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 Starke County, Indiana?

    Starke County has a County Distress Index score of 52.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,425th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Starke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Starke County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Starke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Starke County (52.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: St. Joseph County, IN (59.9); LaPorte County, IN (58.4); Fulton County, IN (54.4).

  • 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). Starke County's score of 52.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Starke 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 Starke County?

    Starke County, Indiana has a population of approximately 23,206 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.