Louisa County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.4 | 10,513 people · 52nd most distressed in Iowa
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Louisa County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.4 — 2737th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 52nd of 99 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Louisa County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 43.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 43.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 43
Consumer Credit Distress 36.2
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 34.5
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 27
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 48
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Economic Vitality 18.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 16.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 41
Homeownership Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Louisa County
Louisa County, IA 30.4 Healthy —
Des Moines County, IA 62.6 Elevated +32.2
Rock Island County, IL 52.0 Elevated +21.5
Muscatine County, IA 41.4 Normal +11.0
Henry County, IA 41.1 Normal +10.6
Johnson County, IA 36.1 Normal +5.7
Mercer County, IL 31.0 Healthy +0.6
Washington County, IA 27.5 Healthy -3.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Louisa County
Lawrence County, SD 30.4 Healthy 0.0
Waseca County, MN 30.4 Healthy -0.1
Antrim County, MI 30.5 Healthy +0.1
Presque Isle County, MI 30.5 Healthy +0.1
Elk County, PA 30.4 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Louisa 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 Louisa 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 Louisa County, Iowa?

    Louisa County has a County Distress Index score of 30.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,737th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Louisa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Louisa County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 43.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Louisa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Louisa County (30.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Des Moines County, IA (62.6); Rock Island County, IL (52.0); Muscatine County, IA (41.4).

  • 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 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). Louisa County's score of 30.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Louisa 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 Louisa County?

    Louisa County, Iowa has a population of approximately 10,513 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.