Henry County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.1 | 19,547 people · 23rd most distressed in Iowa
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Henry County, IA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.1 — 2122nd 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 23rd of 99 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Henry County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 58
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 52
Structural Poverty 47.3
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 48
Economic Vitality 36.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 94
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Consumer Credit Distress 32.9
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 20
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 34
Legal Distress 29.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Henry County
Henry County, IA 41.1 Normal —
Des Moines County, IA 62.6 Elevated +21.6
Jefferson County, IA 49.8 Normal +8.7
Lee County, IA 47.7 Normal +6.7
Van Buren County, IA 39.8 Normal -1.3
Louisa County, IA 30.4 Healthy -10.6
Washington County, IA 27.5 Healthy -13.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Henry County
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal +0.0
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal +0.0
Kingfisher County, OK 41.0 Normal -0.0
Big Horn County, WY 41.1 Normal +0.1
Livingston County, MO 41.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

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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 Henry County, Iowa?

    Henry County has a County Distress Index score of 41.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,122nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 23rd in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Henry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Henry County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Henry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Henry County (41.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Des Moines County, IA (62.6); Jefferson County, IA (49.8); Lee County, IA (47.7).

  • 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). Henry County's score of 41.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Henry 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 Henry County?

    Henry County, Iowa has a population of approximately 19,547 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.