Greene County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.1 | 8,584 people · 17th most distressed in Iowa
American Default Research

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

Greene County, IA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.1 — 2058th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 17th of 99 counties. It scores higher than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Greene County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 56.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 56.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Structural Poverty 46.3
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 60
Transfer Income Dependency 50
Housing Cost Burden 43.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 28
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 51
Consumer Credit Distress 41.2
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 70
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 45
Economic Vitality 27.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 15
Business Formation Rate 91
House Price Change (YoY) 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Greene County, IA 42.1 Normal —
Webster County, IA 41.6 Normal -0.6
Guthrie County, IA 29.8 Healthy -12.4
Boone County, IA 24.4 Healthy -17.7
Dallas County, IA 24.2 Healthy -18.0
Calhoun County, IA 23.6 Healthy -18.6
Carroll County, IA 23.3 Healthy -18.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Greene County
Brown County, NE 42.2 Normal +0.1
Lake County, CO 42.1 Normal -0.1
Ozark County, MO 42.1 Normal -0.1
Doniphan County, KS 42.0 Normal -0.1
Mellette County, SD 42.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Greene 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 Greene 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 Greene County, Iowa?

    Greene County has a County Distress Index score of 42.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,058th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Greene County?

    The primary driver of distress in Greene County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 56.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Greene County compare to neighboring counties?

    Greene County (42.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Webster County, IA (41.6); Guthrie County, IA (29.8); Boone County, IA (24.4).

  • 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 Normal 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). Greene County's score of 42.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Greene 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 Greene County?

    Greene County, Iowa has a population of approximately 8,584 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.