Richland Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.0 | 19,712 people · 19th most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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Richland Parish, LA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.0 — 268th 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 19th of 64 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Richland Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 95.0 — worse than roughly 95% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 95.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 86.3
Debt in Collections 93
Medical Debt 87
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 75
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 94
Structural Poverty 82.0
Unemployment Rate 76
Poverty Rate 95
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 95
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Economic Vitality 65.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 60
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Housing Cost Burden 35.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 39
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 80

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland Parish
Richland Parish, LA 73.0 Serious —
East Carroll Parish, LA 82.9 Crisis +10.0
Morehouse Parish, LA 82.1 Crisis +9.1
Madison Parish, LA 78.1 Serious +5.1
Ouachita Parish, LA 77.5 Serious +4.6
Caldwell Parish, LA 73.3 Serious +0.4
Franklin Parish, LA 68.0 Serious -4.9
West Carroll Parish, LA 53.7 Elevated -19.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland Parish
Clay County, KY 73.0 Serious 0.0
Butler County, AL 72.9 Serious -0.0
Jones County, TX 73.1 Serious +0.1
Jackson County, AR 72.8 Serious -0.1
Bryan County, OK 72.8 Serious -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Richland Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in Richland 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 Richland 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 Richland Parish, Louisiana?

    Richland Parish has a County Distress Index score of 73.0 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 268th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Richland Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in Richland Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 95.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Richland Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    Richland Parish (73.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: East Carroll Parish, LA (82.9); Morehouse Parish, LA (82.1); Madison Parish, LA (78.1).

  • 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). Richland Parish's score of 73.0 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power Richland Parish's CDI score?

    Richland 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 Richland Parish?

    Richland Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 19,712 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.