White County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.4 | 24,917 people · 44th most distressed in Indiana
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White County, IN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.4 — 1610th 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 44th of 92 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. White County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 68.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 68.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Housing Cost Burden 55.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 73
Homeownership Rate 22
Economic Vitality 49.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 84
Consumer Credit Distress 47.0
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 81
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 50
Structural Poverty 37.5
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
White County, IN 49.4 Normal —
Cass County, IN 58.0 Elevated +8.6
Tippecanoe County, IN 55.8 Elevated +6.4
Benton County, IN 51.3 Elevated +1.9
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal -6.1
Jasper County, IN 39.3 Normal -10.1
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal -12.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. White County
Coos County, NH 49.4 Normal +0.0
Allen County, KS 49.4 Normal -0.0
Colorado County, TX 49.4 Normal -0.0
Cleburne County, AR 49.4 Normal -0.0
Hardy County, WV 49.5 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in White 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 White 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 White County, Indiana?

    White County has a County Distress Index score of 49.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,610th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in White County?

    The primary driver of distress in White County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 68.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does White County compare to neighboring counties?

    White County (49.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Cass County, IN (58.0); Tippecanoe County, IN (55.8); Benton County, IN (51.3).

  • 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 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). White County's score of 49.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    White 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 White County?

    White County, Indiana has a population of approximately 24,917 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.