Clayton County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.1 | 16,969 people · 57th most distressed in Iowa
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Clayton County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.1 — 2798th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Iowa, it ranks 57th of 99 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clayton County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 55.5 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 55.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 60
Homeownership Rate 38
Structural Poverty 43.7
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 35
Economic Vitality 29.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 10
Business Formation Rate 69
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Legal Distress 19.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 20
Consumer Credit Distress 14.0
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 29
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clayton County
Clayton County, IA 29.1 Healthy —
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal +8.3
Grant County, WI 35.2 Normal +6.1
Dubuque County, IA 33.6 Healthy +4.5
Crawford County, WI 31.1 Healthy +2.0
Allamakee County, IA 26.7 Healthy -2.4
Delaware County, IA 24.4 Healthy -4.7
Buchanan County, IA 23.8 Healthy -5.3
Winneshiek County, IA 16.2 Healthy -12.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clayton County
Juab County, UT 29.1 Healthy -0.0
Jefferson County, KS 29.1 Healthy -0.0
Brown County, MN 29.2 Healthy +0.1
Oneida County, WI 29.2 Healthy +0.1
San Juan County, WA 29.0 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clayton County

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Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 515-243-3179

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Clayton County has a County Distress Index score of 29.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,798th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clayton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clayton County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 55.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Clayton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clayton County (29.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Fayette County, IA (37.4); Grant County, WI (35.2); Dubuque County, IA (33.6).

  • 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). Clayton County's score of 29.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Clayton 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 Clayton County?

    Clayton County, Iowa has a population of approximately 16,969 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.