Boone County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 24.4 | 26,590 people · 74th most distressed in Iowa
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Boone County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 24.4 — 2981st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 74th of 99 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. Boone County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 50.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 50.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Economic Vitality 31.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Housing Cost Burden 28.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 14
Structural Poverty 19.4
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 20
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Consumer Credit Distress 18.6
Debt in Collections 13
Medical Debt 26
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Boone County, IA 24.4 Healthy —
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal +19.2
Greene County, IA 42.1 Normal +17.7
Webster County, IA 41.6 Normal +17.1
Story County, IA 34.9 Healthy +10.5
Hamilton County, IA 28.1 Healthy +3.7
Dallas County, IA 24.2 Healthy -0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Boone County
Vilas County, WI 24.4 Healthy 0.0
Delaware County, IA 24.4 Healthy -0.0
Hancock County, IA 24.2 Healthy -0.2
Iowa County, IA 24.1 Healthy -0.3
Lafayette County, WI 24.8 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Boone County

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 Boone 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Boone County, Iowa?

    Boone County has a County Distress Index score of 24.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,981st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Boone County?

    The primary driver of distress in Boone County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 50.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Boone County compare to neighboring counties?

    Boone County (24.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Polk County, IA (43.6); Greene County, IA (42.1); Webster County, IA (41.6).

  • 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). Boone County's score of 24.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Boone 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 Boone County?

    Boone County, Iowa has a population of approximately 26,590 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.