Jasper County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.7 | 37,919 people · 16th most distressed in Iowa
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Jasper County, IA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.7 — 2029th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 16th of 99 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jasper County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 59.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 59.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Housing Cost Burden 53.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 38
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 48
Economic Vitality 44.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 83
Consumer Credit Distress 38.1
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 45
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 36
Structural Poverty 31.1
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Jasper County, IA 42.7 Normal —
Polk County, IA 43.6 Normal +0.9
Poweshiek County, IA 38.7 Normal -4.0
Marshall County, IA 35.3 Normal -7.4
Tama County, IA 35.1 Normal -7.6
Story County, IA 34.9 Healthy -7.8
Marion County, IA 28.3 Healthy -14.4
Mahaska County, IA 26.9 Healthy -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jasper County
Franklin County, NY 42.7 Normal -0.0
Lincoln County, MT 42.8 Normal +0.1
Orange County, VA 42.9 Normal +0.1
Linn County, MO 42.9 Normal +0.2
Hampshire County, WV 42.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

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Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 515-243-3179

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Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Jasper County, Iowa?

    Jasper County has a County Distress Index score of 42.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,029th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jasper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jasper County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 59.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jasper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jasper County (42.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Polk County, IA (43.6); Poweshiek County, IA (38.7); Marshall County, IA (35.3).

  • 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). Jasper County's score of 42.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Jasper 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 Jasper County?

    Jasper County, Iowa has a population of approximately 37,919 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.