Whitley County, Indiana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.3 | 34,742 people · 84th most distressed in Indiana
American Default Research

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Whitley County, IN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.3 — 2629th 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 84th of 92 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Whitley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.8 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Economic Vitality 35.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 16
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Consumer Credit Distress 30.1
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 19
Housing Cost Burden 26.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 18
Structural Poverty 19.4
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 12
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Whitley County
Whitley County, IN 32.3 Healthy —
Allen County, IN 53.7 Elevated +21.4
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal +15.0
Kosciusko County, IN 46.5 Normal +14.2
Wabash County, IN 44.5 Normal +12.2
Huntington County, IN 41.7 Normal +9.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Whitley County
Benzie County, MI 32.3 Healthy 0.0
Nantucket County, MA 32.3 Healthy -0.0
Gunnison County, CO 32.4 Healthy +0.0
Bureau County, IL 32.2 Healthy -0.1
Henry County, OH 32.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Whitley 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 Whitley 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 Whitley County, Indiana?

    Whitley County has a County Distress Index score of 32.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,629th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 84th in Indiana out of 92 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Whitley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Whitley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Whitley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Whitley County (32.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Allen County, IN (53.7); Noble County, IN (47.3); Kosciusko County, IN (46.5).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Whitley County's score of 32.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Whitley 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 Whitley County?

    Whitley County, Indiana has a population of approximately 34,742 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.