Switzerland County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.5 | 10,019 people · 23rd most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Switzerland County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.5 — 1243rd 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 23rd of 92 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Switzerland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.0 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Consumer Credit Distress 63.6
Debt in Collections 58
Medical Debt 64
Auto Loan Delinquency 67
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 69
Economic Vitality 60.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 71
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Structural Poverty 59.4
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Housing Cost Burden 26.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 19
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Switzerland County
Switzerland County, IN 55.5 Elevated —
Gallatin County, KY 63.6 Elevated +8.1
Carroll County, KY 60.7 Elevated +5.3
Ohio County, IN 59.8 Elevated +4.3
Jefferson County, IN 52.1 Elevated -3.4
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal -11.8
Boone County, KY 42.5 Normal -13.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Switzerland County
Logan County, AR 55.5 Elevated -0.0
Hancock County, MS 55.5 Elevated +0.0
Laclede County, MO 55.5 Elevated +0.0
Highland County, OH 55.5 Elevated +0.0
Logan County, KY 55.4 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Switzerland 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 Switzerland 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Switzerland County, Indiana?

    Switzerland County has a County Distress Index score of 55.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,243rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 23rd in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Switzerland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Switzerland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Switzerland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Switzerland County (55.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Gallatin County, KY (63.6); Carroll County, KY (60.7); Ohio County, IN (59.8).

  • 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). Switzerland County's score of 55.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Switzerland 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 Switzerland County?

    Switzerland County, Indiana has a population of approximately 10,019 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.