Wells County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.8 | 28,555 people · 68th most distressed in Indiana
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Wells County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.8 — 2208th 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 68th of 92 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wells County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.7 — worse than roughly 80% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 40.5
Debt in Collections 34
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 60
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 31
Economic Vitality 39.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Housing Cost Burden 35.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 40
Structural Poverty 22.6
Unemployment Rate 1
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 39
Child Poverty Rate 13
Disability Rate 18
Transfer Income Dependency 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wells County
Wells County, IN 39.8 Normal —
Grant County, IN 65.7 Serious +26.0
Blackford County, IN 58.7 Elevated +19.0
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +14.0
Jay County, IN 51.4 Elevated +11.7
Huntington County, IN 41.7 Normal +1.9
Adams County, IN 34.8 Healthy -4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wells County
Johnson County, IL 39.8 Normal 0.0
Mitchell County, NC 39.7 Normal -0.0
Roberts County, SD 39.8 Normal +0.0
Mason County, MI 39.7 Normal -0.1
Douglas County, WA 39.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wells 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 Wells 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 Wells County, Indiana?

    Wells County has a County Distress Index score of 39.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,208th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 68th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wells County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wells County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wells County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wells County (39.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grant County, IN (65.7); Blackford County, IN (58.7); Allen County, IN (53.7).

  • 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). Wells County's score of 39.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wells 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 Wells County?

    Wells County, Indiana has a population of approximately 28,555 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.