De Soto Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 67.2 | 27,114 people · 37th most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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De Soto Parish, LA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 67.2 — 536th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Louisiana, it ranks 37th of 64 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. De Soto Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.2 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 85.8
Debt in Collections 90
Medical Debt 92
Auto Loan Delinquency 84
Credit Card Delinquency 93
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 95
Structural Poverty 66.3
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 77
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 85
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Economic Vitality 34.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 10
House Price Change (YoY) 80
Housing Cost Burden 32.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 40
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 26
Homeownership Rate 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. De Soto Parish
De Soto Parish, LA 67.2 Serious —
Caddo Parish, LA 82.7 Crisis +15.5
Natchitoches Parish, LA 77.5 Serious +10.4
Red River Parish, LA 65.8 Serious -1.4
Sabine Parish, LA 63.9 Elevated -3.2
Shelby County, TX 62.8 Elevated -4.4
Panola County, TX 59.8 Elevated -7.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. De Soto Parish
Covington County, AL 67.2 Serious -0.0
Calhoun County, MS 67.1 Serious -0.0
Mingo County, WV 67.1 Serious -0.0
Murray County, GA 67.2 Serious +0.1
Barren County, KY 67.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for De Soto Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in De Soto Parish

Find an Attorney

Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Louisiana State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 1-800-421-5722

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving De Soto Parish residents at no cost.

Southeast Louisiana Legal Services 504-529-1000
Acadiana Legal Service Corporation 1-800-256-1175
Southeast Louisiana Legal Services Corporation (504) 529-1000

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Louisiana →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for De Soto Parish, Louisiana?

    De Soto Parish has a County Distress Index score of 67.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 536th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in De Soto Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in De Soto Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does De Soto Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    De Soto Parish (67.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Caddo Parish, LA (82.7); Natchitoches Parish, LA (77.5); Red River Parish, LA (65.8).

  • 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 Serious 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). De Soto Parish's score of 67.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power De Soto Parish's CDI score?

    De Soto Parish'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 De Soto Parish?

    De Soto Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 27,114 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.