Plymouth County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.2 | 25,722 people · 88th most distressed in Iowa
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Plymouth County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.2 — 3068th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Iowa, it ranks 88th of 99 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Plymouth County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 44.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 44.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Housing Cost Burden 24.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 23
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 54
Consumer Credit Distress 16.9
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 21
Structural Poverty 16.4
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 14
Economic Vitality 11.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 7
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 42

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Plymouth County
Plymouth County, IA 20.2 Healthy —
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated +31.4
Cherokee County, IA 32.5 Healthy +12.3
O'Brien County, IA 27.4 Healthy +7.2
Union County, SD 21.9 Healthy +1.8
Sioux County, IA 18.1 Healthy -2.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Plymouth County
Brookings County, SD 20.1 Healthy -0.1
Monroe County, IL 20.1 Healthy -0.1
Blaine County, ID 20.5 Healthy +0.3
Osage County, MO 19.8 Healthy -0.4
Washington County, IL 19.8 Healthy -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Plymouth 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

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Plymouth 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 Plymouth County, Iowa?

    Plymouth County has a County Distress Index score of 20.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,068th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 88th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Plymouth County?

    The primary driver of distress in Plymouth County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 44.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Plymouth County compare to neighboring counties?

    Plymouth County (20.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Woodbury County, IA (51.5); Cherokee County, IA (32.5); O'Brien County, IA (27.4).

  • 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). Plymouth County's score of 20.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Plymouth 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 Plymouth County?

    Plymouth County, Iowa has a population of approximately 25,722 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.