Monona County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.3 | 8,493 people · 22nd most distressed in Iowa
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Monona County, IA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.3 — 2109th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 22nd of 99 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monona County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 51.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 51.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 52
Structural Poverty 50.9
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 31
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Housing Cost Burden 43.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 37
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 25
Homeownership Rate 39
Consumer Credit Distress 37.3
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 26
Economic Vitality 34.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monona County
Monona County, IA 41.3 Normal —
Thurston County, NE 54.5 Elevated +13.3
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated +10.3
Crawford County, IA 38.0 Normal -3.3
Harrison County, IA 37.1 Normal -4.2
Burt County, NE 28.3 Healthy -13.0
Ida County, IA 19.2 Healthy -22.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monona County
San Juan County, CO 41.3 Normal 0.0
Aleutians West Census Area, AK 41.2 Normal -0.0
Borden County, TX 41.2 Normal -0.0
Pawnee County, KS 41.3 Normal +0.0
Cheyenne County, NE 41.2 Normal -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monona 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 Monona 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 Monona County, Iowa?

    Monona County has a County Distress Index score of 41.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,109th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monona County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monona County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 51.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Monona County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monona County (41.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Thurston County, NE (54.5); Woodbury County, IA (51.5); 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 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). Monona County's score of 41.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Monona 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 Monona County?

    Monona County, Iowa has a population of approximately 8,493 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.