Bremer County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 17.8 | 25,307 people · 95th most distressed in Iowa
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Bremer County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 17.8 — 3107th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 95th of 99 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bremer County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 35.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 35.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Economic Vitality 33.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 1
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Housing Cost Burden 27.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 16
Structural Poverty 15.1
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 6
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Consumer Credit Distress 8.0
Debt in Collections 4
Medical Debt 20
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 1
Subprime Credit Population 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bremer County
Bremer County, IA 17.8 Healthy —
Black Hawk County, IA 51.4 Elevated +33.6
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal +19.6
Floyd County, IA 27.7 Healthy +10.0
Buchanan County, IA 23.8 Healthy +6.0
Chickasaw County, IA 18.7 Healthy +0.9
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy +0.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bremer County
Holt County, NE 17.7 Healthy -0.0
Goochland County, VA 17.9 Healthy +0.2
Mitchell County, IA 17.5 Healthy -0.2
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy +0.4
Sioux County, IA 18.1 Healthy +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bremer County

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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 Bremer County residents at no cost.

Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Bremer County has a County Distress Index score of 17.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,107th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 95th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bremer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bremer County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 35.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Bremer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bremer County (17.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Black Hawk County, IA (51.4); Fayette County, IA (37.4); Floyd County, IA (27.7).

  • 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 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). Bremer County's score of 17.8 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Bremer 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 Bremer County?

    Bremer County, Iowa has a population of approximately 25,307 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.