Dallas County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 24.2 | 111,092 people · 77th most distressed in Iowa
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Dallas County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 24.2 — 2990th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 77th of 99 counties. It scores lower than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dallas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 51.4 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 51.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 51
Housing Cost Burden 42.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 72
Economic Vitality 19.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 4
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 78
Consumer Credit Distress 18.1
Debt in Collections 10
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 17
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 20
Structural Poverty 4.2
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallas County
Dallas County, IA 24.2 Healthy —
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal +19.4
Greene County, IA 42.1 Normal +18.0
Adair County, IA 33.6 Healthy +9.4
Guthrie County, IA 29.8 Healthy +5.6
Warren County, IA 28.7 Healthy +4.5
Madison County, IA 28.5 Healthy +4.3
Boone County, IA 24.4 Healthy +0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallas County
St. Croix County, WI 24.3 Healthy +0.1
Arlington County, VA 23.5 Healthy -0.7
Outagamie County, WI 25.2 Healthy +1.0
Washington County, WI 25.4 Healthy +1.2
Union County, OH 25.5 Healthy +1.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dallas 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

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Legal aid organizations serving Dallas 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 Dallas County, Iowa?

    Dallas County has a County Distress Index score of 24.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,990th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 77th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dallas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dallas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 51.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dallas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dallas County (24.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Polk County, IA (43.6); Greene County, IA (42.1); Adair 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). Dallas County's score of 24.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Dallas 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 Dallas County?

    Dallas County, Iowa has a population of approximately 111,092 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.