Franklin County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.0 | 9,875 people · 54th most distressed in Iowa
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Franklin County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.0 — 2754th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency rates remain below the national norm. Within Iowa, it ranks 54th of 99 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 38.9 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 38.9
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 65
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 20
Structural Poverty 30.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 29
Economic Vitality 28.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 12
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 82
House Price Change (YoY) 87
Housing Cost Burden 19.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 60
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, IA 30.0 Healthy —
Hardin County, IA 37.6 Normal +7.6
Wright County, IA 35.0 Healthy +5.0
Cerro Gordo County, IA 30.1 Healthy +0.0
Hamilton County, IA 28.1 Healthy -1.9
Floyd County, IA 27.7 Healthy -2.3
Hancock County, IA 24.2 Healthy -5.8
Butler County, IA 18.1 Healthy -11.9
Grundy County, IA 16.6 Healthy -13.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -0.0
Lane County, KS 30.0 Healthy -0.0
Adams County, ND 30.1 Healthy +0.1
Cheyenne County, CO 29.9 Healthy -0.1
Bath County, VA 30.1 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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 Franklin County, Iowa?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 30.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,754th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 54th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 38.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (30.0) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Hardin County, IA (37.6); Wright County, IA (35.0); Cerro Gordo County, IA (30.1).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 30.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Iowa has a population of approximately 9,875 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.