Vanderburgh County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.8 | 179,810 people · 14th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Vanderburgh County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.8 — 966th 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 14th of 92 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Vanderburgh County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 84.8 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 84.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 76.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 86
Consumer Credit Distress 54.8
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 61
Uninsured Rate 43
Subprime Credit Population 57
Structural Poverty 47.6
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 52
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 51
Transfer Income Dependency 38
Economic Vitality 43.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Vanderburgh County
Vanderburgh County, IN 59.8 Elevated —
Henderson County, KY 59.4 Elevated -0.4
Gibson County, IN 36.4 Normal -23.4
Posey County, IN 30.3 Healthy -29.5
Warrick County, IN 28.2 Healthy -31.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Vanderburgh County
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated -0.0
Athens County, OH 59.8 Elevated +0.0
Coffee County, TN 59.8 Elevated +0.0
Columbiana County, OH 59.7 Elevated -0.1
Lackawanna County, PA 59.7 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Vanderburgh County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Vanderburgh County.

COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM OF EVANSVILLE & VANDERBURGH COUNTY, INC
Evansville
812-425-4241
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
HOPE OF EVANSVILLE, INC
Evansville
812-423-3169 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

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 Vanderburgh 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Vanderburgh County has a County Distress Index score of 59.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 966th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Vanderburgh County?

    The primary driver of distress in Vanderburgh County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 84.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Vanderburgh County compare to neighboring counties?

    Vanderburgh County (59.8) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Henderson County, KY (59.4); Gibson County, IN (36.4); Posey County, IN (30.3).

  • 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 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). Vanderburgh County's score of 59.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Vanderburgh 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 Vanderburgh County?

    Vanderburgh County, Indiana has a population of approximately 179,810 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.