Black Hawk County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.4 | 130,471 people · 5th most distressed in Iowa
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Black Hawk County, IA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.4 — 1492nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Iowa, it ranks 5th of 99 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Black Hawk County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.7 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 82
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 84
Legal Distress 49.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 50
Structural Poverty 48.7
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 75
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Consumer Credit Distress 42.0
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 43
Economic Vitality 29.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 45
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 74

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Black Hawk County
Black Hawk County, IA 51.4 Elevated —
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal -14.0
Tama County, IA 35.1 Normal -16.3
Buchanan County, IA 23.8 Healthy -27.6
Benton County, IA 22.8 Healthy -28.5
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy -33.3
Bremer County, IA 17.8 Healthy -33.6
Grundy County, IA 16.6 Healthy -34.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Black Hawk County
Jackson County, GA 51.4 Elevated +0.0
Natrona County, WY 51.4 Elevated +0.0
Washington County, NY 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Reno County, KS 51.3 Elevated -0.1
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Black Hawk County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Black Hawk County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Black Hawk County.

CCCS OF ROCHESTER-NORTHEASTERN IOWA
Waterloo
800-714-4388
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseRental Help
FAMILY MANAGEMENT FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS, INC.
Waterloo
319-234-6695 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Iowa →

Find an Attorney

Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 515-243-3179

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Black Hawk County residents at no cost.

Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Iowa →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Black Hawk County, Iowa?

    Black Hawk County has a County Distress Index score of 51.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,492nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Black Hawk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Black Hawk County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Black Hawk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Black Hawk County (51.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IA (37.4); Tama County, IA (35.1); Buchanan County, IA (23.8).

  • 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). Black Hawk County's score of 51.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Black Hawk County's CDI score?

    Black Hawk 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 Black Hawk County?

    Black Hawk County, Iowa has a population of approximately 130,471 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.