Wayne County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.3 | 66,127 people · 6th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Wayne County, IN shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.3 — 586th 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 6th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wayne County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.9 — worse than roughly 89% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 89
Housing Cost Burden 72.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 27
Homeownership Rate 72
Structural Poverty 69.4
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 73
Consumer Credit Distress 63.8
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 63
Economic Vitality 41.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 56
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Wayne County, IN 66.3 Serious —
Fayette County, IN 67.8 Serious +1.5
Randolph County, IN 52.0 Elevated -14.3
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated -14.9
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal -21.4
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal -28.0
Union County, IN 36.6 Normal -29.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wayne County
Laurens County, SC 66.3 Serious -0.0
Bradley County, TN 66.3 Serious +0.0
Buchanan County, MO 66.3 Serious -0.0
Klamath County, OR 66.4 Serious +0.1
Citrus County, FL 66.4 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne County, Indiana?

    Wayne County has a County Distress Index score of 66.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 586th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wayne County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wayne County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wayne County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wayne County (66.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IN (67.8); Randolph County, IN (52.0); Henry County, IN (51.4).

  • 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 Serious 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). Wayne County's score of 66.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Wayne 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 Wayne County?

    Wayne County, Indiana has a population of approximately 66,127 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.