Buchanan County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.8 | 20,691 people · 80th most distressed in Iowa
American Default Research

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

Buchanan County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.8 — 2996th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 80th of 99 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Buchanan County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 36.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 36.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 37
Economic Vitality 31.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 27
Rent-to-Income Ratio 1
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 48
Housing Cost Burden 30.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 18
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 46
Homeownership Rate 14
Structural Poverty 21.4
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 20
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 25
Consumer Credit Distress 18.0
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 40
Auto Loan Delinquency 4
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 28
Subprime Credit Population 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Buchanan County
Buchanan County, IA 23.8 Healthy —
Black Hawk County, IA 51.4 Elevated +27.6
Linn County, IA 38.1 Normal +14.3
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal +13.6
Clayton County, IA 29.1 Healthy +5.3
Delaware County, IA 24.4 Healthy +0.6
Benton County, IA 22.8 Healthy -1.0
Bremer County, IA 17.8 Healthy -6.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Buchanan County
Yankton County, SD 23.9 Healthy +0.1
Dickinson County, IA 23.9 Healthy +0.1
Door County, WI 23.6 Healthy -0.2
Mercer County, OH 24.0 Healthy +0.2
Iowa County, IA 24.1 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Buchanan 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 Buchanan 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 Buchanan County, Iowa?

    Buchanan County has a County Distress Index score of 23.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,996th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 80th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Buchanan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Buchanan County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 36.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Buchanan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Buchanan County (23.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Black Hawk County, IA (51.4); Linn County, IA (38.1); Fayette County, IA (37.4).

  • 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). Buchanan County's score of 23.8 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Buchanan 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 Buchanan County?

    Buchanan County, Iowa has a population of approximately 20,691 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.