Tippecanoe County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 55.8 | 188,792 people · 22nd most distressed in Indiana
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Tippecanoe County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 55.8 — 1224th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Indiana, it ranks 22nd of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Tippecanoe County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 89.6 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 89.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 96
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 97
Economic Vitality 56.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 45
Rent-to-Income Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Legal Distress 47.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Consumer Credit Distress 47.5
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 43
Structural Poverty 33.1
Unemployment Rate 4
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 4
Transfer Income Dependency 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Tippecanoe County
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated —
Montgomery County, IN 51.9 Elevated -3.9
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated -4.4
White County, IN 49.4 Normal -6.4
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal -9.7
Fountain County, IN 38.0 Normal -17.8
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal -19.3
Warren County, IN 35.8 Normal -20.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Tippecanoe County
DeKalb County, IL 55.8 Elevated +0.0
Elmore County, AL 55.8 Elevated +0.0
Greene County, TN 55.8 Elevated +0.1
Coos County, OR 55.7 Elevated -0.1
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Tippecanoe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Tippecanoe County.

Lafayette Neighborhood Housing Services, Inc DBA Homestead Resources
Lafayette
765-423-1284
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-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 Tippecanoe 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 Tippecanoe County, Indiana?

    Tippecanoe County has a County Distress Index score of 55.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,224th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Tippecanoe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Tippecanoe County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 89.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Tippecanoe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Tippecanoe County (55.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, IN (51.9); Benton County, IN (51.3); White County, IN (49.4).

  • 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). Tippecanoe County's score of 55.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Tippecanoe 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 Tippecanoe County?

    Tippecanoe County, Indiana has a population of approximately 188,792 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.