Mahaska County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.9 | 21,874 people · 69th most distressed in Iowa
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Mahaska County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.9 — 2894th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 69th of 99 counties. It scores lower 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. Mahaska County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 36.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 36.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Structural Poverty 30.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 35
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 31
Economic Vitality 28.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 6
Business Formation Rate 92
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Housing Cost Burden 27.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 17
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 23.9
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 34
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mahaska County
Mahaska County, IA 26.9 Healthy —
Wapello County, IA 64.5 Elevated +37.6
Jasper County, IA 42.7 Normal +15.8
Monroe County, IA 40.6 Normal +13.7
Poweshiek County, IA 38.7 Normal +11.8
Keokuk County, IA 38.0 Normal +11.1
Marion County, IA 28.3 Healthy +1.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mahaska County
Park County, WY 26.9 Healthy 0.0
Franklin County, ID 26.9 Healthy -0.0
Clinton County, IL 26.9 Healthy -0.0
Kossuth County, IA 26.9 Healthy +0.0
Vernon County, WI 26.9 Healthy -0.0

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Mahaska 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 Mahaska County, Iowa?

    Mahaska County has a County Distress Index score of 26.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,894th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 69th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mahaska County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mahaska County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 36.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Mahaska County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mahaska County (26.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wapello County, IA (64.5); Jasper County, IA (42.7); Monroe County, IA (40.6).

  • 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). Mahaska County's score of 26.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Mahaska 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 Mahaska County?

    Mahaska County, Iowa has a population of approximately 21,874 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.