Pottawattamie County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.5 | 93,179 people · 4th most distressed in Iowa
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Pottawattamie County, IA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.5 — 1487th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Iowa, it ranks 4th of 99 counties. It scores higher than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pottawattamie County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 67.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 67.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 68
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Housing Cost Burden 59.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 69
Legal Distress 56.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Consumer Credit Distress 45.7
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 52
Structural Poverty 44.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 34
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 50

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pottawattamie County
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated —
Montgomery County, IA 51.0 Elevated -0.5
Douglas County, NE 48.7 Normal -2.8
Cass County, IA 46.3 Normal -5.2
Harrison County, IA 37.1 Normal -14.4
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy -18.3
Sarpy County, NE 32.1 Healthy -19.4
Shelby County, IA 31.0 Healthy -20.5
Washington County, NE 25.0 Healthy -26.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pottawattamie County
Wood County, WV 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Shiawassee County, MI 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Natrona County, WY 51.4 Elevated -0.1
Jackson County, GA 51.4 Elevated -0.1
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pottawattamie County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Pottawattamie County.

CREDIT ADVISORS FOUNDATION
Council Bluffs
402-393-3100 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

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Find an Attorney

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 Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie County, Iowa?

    Pottawattamie County has a County Distress Index score of 51.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,487th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pottawattamie County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pottawattamie County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 67.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Pottawattamie County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pottawattamie County (51.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, IA (51.0); Douglas County, NE (48.7); Cass County, IA (46.3).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Pottawattamie County's score of 51.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pottawattamie 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 Pottawattamie County?

    Pottawattamie County, Iowa has a population of approximately 93,179 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.