Chickasaw County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 18.7 | 11,658 people · 90th most distressed in Iowa
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Chickasaw County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 18.7 — 3093rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 90th of 99 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chickasaw County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 28.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 28.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29
Economic Vitality 20.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Structural Poverty 20.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 34
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 39
Transfer Income Dependency 7
Consumer Credit Distress 18.1
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 28
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 10
Housing Cost Burden 14.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 10
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chickasaw County
Chickasaw County, IA 18.7 Healthy —
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal +18.7
Floyd County, IA 27.7 Healthy +9.1
Howard County, IA 18.3 Healthy -0.4
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy -0.6
Bremer County, IA 17.8 Healthy -0.9
Mitchell County, IA 17.5 Healthy -1.1
Winneshiek County, IA 16.2 Healthy -2.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chickasaw County
Leelanau County, MI 18.7 Healthy +0.1
Oconee County, GA 18.6 Healthy -0.1
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy -0.6
Sioux County, IA 18.1 Healthy -0.6
Iowa County, WI 19.4 Healthy +0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw County, Iowa?

    Chickasaw County has a County Distress Index score of 18.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,093rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 90th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chickasaw County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chickasaw County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 28.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chickasaw County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chickasaw County (18.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IA (37.4); Floyd County, IA (27.7); Howard County, IA (18.3).

  • 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). Chickasaw County's score of 18.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Chickasaw 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 Chickasaw County?

    Chickasaw County, Iowa has a population of approximately 11,658 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.