Washington County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 59.0 | 28,205 people · 18th most distressed in Indiana
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Washington County, IN registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 59.0 — 1018th 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 18th of 92 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Washington County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 86.0 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 86.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Economic Vitality 63.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 51
Consumer Credit Distress 61.1
Debt in Collections 60
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 78
Uninsured Rate 52
Subprime Credit Population 51
Structural Poverty 51.8
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 46
Income vs. State Median 86
Child Poverty Rate 51
Disability Rate 51
Transfer Income Dependency 47
Housing Cost Burden 48.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 41
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 68
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 59
Homeownership Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Washington County, IN 59.0 Elevated —
Scott County, IN 62.7 Elevated +3.7
Clark County, IN 59.1 Elevated +0.1
Crawford County, IN 52.3 Elevated -6.8
Jackson County, IN 51.1 Elevated -7.9
Orange County, IN 49.7 Normal -9.3
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal -10.0
Floyd County, IN 47.3 Normal -11.8
Harrison County, IN 38.3 Normal -20.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Washington County
Saline County, IL 59.0 Elevated -0.0
Hopkins County, KY 59.0 Elevated +0.0
Grant County, KY 59.0 Elevated -0.0
Franklin County, AL 59.1 Elevated +0.0
Roosevelt County, MT 59.1 Elevated +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington County, Indiana?

    Washington County has a County Distress Index score of 59.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,018th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washington County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washington County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 86.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Washington County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washington County (59.0) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Scott County, IN (62.7); Clark County, IN (59.1); Crawford County, IN (52.3).

  • 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). Washington County's score of 59.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Washington 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 Washington County?

    Washington County, Indiana has a population of approximately 28,205 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.