Ida County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 19.2 | 6,833 people · 89th most distressed in Iowa
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Ida County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 19.2 — 3090th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 89th of 99 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ida County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 45.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 45.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Economic Vitality 26.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 81
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Structural Poverty 25.6
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 24
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 25
Housing Cost Burden 15.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 8
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 19
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 32
Consumer Credit Distress 13.7
Debt in Collections 6
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 24
Subprime Credit Population 24

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ida County
Ida County, IA 19.2 Healthy —
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated +32.4
Monona County, IA 41.3 Normal +22.1
Crawford County, IA 38.0 Normal +18.8
Cherokee County, IA 32.5 Healthy +13.3
Buena Vista County, IA 32.2 Healthy +13.0
Sac County, IA 18.3 Healthy -0.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ida County
Nelson County, ND 19.2 Healthy +0.1
Denali Borough, AK 19.3 Healthy +0.1
Sargent County, ND 19.3 Healthy +0.1
Cuming County, NE 19.4 Healthy +0.2
Turner County, SD 19.0 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ida 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 Ida 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 Ida County, Iowa?

    Ida County has a County Distress Index score of 19.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,090th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 89th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ida County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ida County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 45.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ida County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ida County (19.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Woodbury County, IA (51.5); Monona County, IA (41.3); Crawford County, IA (38.0).

  • 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). Ida County's score of 19.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Ida 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 Ida County?

    Ida County, Iowa has a population of approximately 6,833 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.