Wabash County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.5 | 30,670 people · 59th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Wabash County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.5 — 1925th 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 59th 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. Wabash County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 73.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 73.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Structural Poverty 48.0
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Consumer Credit Distress 46.5
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 38
Subprime Credit Population 28
Economic Vitality 38.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 27
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Housing Cost Burden 31.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 28
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wabash County
Wabash County, IN 44.5 Normal —
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious +21.2
Miami County, IN 60.7 Elevated +16.2
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated +9.9
Kosciusko County, IN 46.5 Normal +2.0
Huntington County, IN 41.7 Normal -2.9
Whitley County, IN 32.3 Healthy -12.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wabash County
Minidoka County, ID 44.5 Normal -0.0
Putnam County, IN 44.5 Normal -0.0
Allegany County, NY 44.6 Normal +0.1
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal -0.1
Christian County, IL 44.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wabash 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 Wabash 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 Wabash County, Indiana?

    Wabash County has a County Distress Index score of 44.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,925th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wabash County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wabash County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 73.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wabash County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wabash County (44.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grant County, IN (65.7); Miami County, IN (60.7); Fulton County, IN (54.4).

  • 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 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). Wabash County's score of 44.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wabash 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 Wabash County?

    Wabash County, Indiana has a population of approximately 30,670 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.