Steuben County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.0 | 34,917 people · 67th most distressed in Indiana
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Steuben County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.0 — 2195th 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 67th 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. Steuben County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 75.0 — worse than roughly 75% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 75.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Consumer Credit Distress 40.6
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 37
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 33
Economic Vitality 38.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 43
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Housing Cost Burden 35.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 18
Structural Poverty 28.6
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 37

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Steuben County
Steuben County, IN 40.0 Normal —
Branch County, MI 51.8 Elevated +11.8
Williams County, OH 49.5 Normal +9.5
Hillsdale County, MI 48.3 Normal +8.3
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal +7.3
DeKalb County, IN 38.4 Normal -1.6
LaGrange County, IN 25.3 Healthy -14.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Steuben County
Fulton County, IL 40.0 Normal +0.0
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal +0.0
Davie County, NC 40.0 Normal +0.0
Schoharie County, NY 40.0 Normal +0.0
Douglas County, NV 39.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Steuben 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 Steuben 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 Steuben County, Indiana?

    Steuben County has a County Distress Index score of 40.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,195th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 67th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Steuben County?

    The primary driver of distress in Steuben County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 75.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Steuben County compare to neighboring counties?

    Steuben County (40.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Branch County, MI (51.8); Williams County, OH (49.5); Hillsdale County, MI (48.3).

  • 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). Steuben County's score of 40.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Steuben 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 Steuben County?

    Steuben County, Indiana has a population of approximately 34,917 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.