Union County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.6 | 6,973 people · 78th most distressed in Indiana
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Union County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.6 — 2383rd 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 78th of 92 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Union County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 81.7 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 81.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Economic Vitality 49.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Structural Poverty 40.5
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 22
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Consumer Credit Distress 31.0
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 49
Housing Cost Burden 26.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal —
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious +31.2
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious +29.6
Butler County, OH 53.1 Elevated +16.4
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal +8.3
Franklin County, IN 30.7 Healthy -6.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Union County
Lemhi County, ID 36.6 Normal -0.0
Audubon County, IA 36.6 Normal -0.0
Garfield County, WA 36.7 Normal +0.1
Grant County, KS 36.5 Normal -0.1
Webster County, NE 36.5 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Union 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 Union 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 Union County, Indiana?

    Union County has a County Distress Index score of 36.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,383rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 78th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Union County?

    The primary driver of distress in Union County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 81.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Union County compare to neighboring counties?

    Union County (36.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IN (67.8); Wayne County, IN (66.3); Butler County, OH (53.1).

  • 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). Union County's score of 36.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Union 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 Union County?

    Union County, Indiana has a population of approximately 6,973 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.