West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 60.2 | 28,266 people · 50th most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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West Baton Rouge Parish, LA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 60.2 — 937th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Louisiana, it ranks 50th of 64 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. West Baton Rouge Parish's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 74.1 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 74.1
Debt in Collections 83
Medical Debt 73
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 89
Housing Cost Burden 62.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 45
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 94
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 42
Legal Distress 55.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 55
Structural Poverty 32.8
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 7
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Economic Vitality 27.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 16
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 66

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. West Baton Rouge Parish
West Baton Rouge Parish, LA 60.2 Elevated —
East Baton Rouge Parish, LA 72.6 Serious +12.4
Pointe Coupee Parish, LA 69.2 Serious +9.0
Iberville Parish, LA 58.9 Elevated -1.3
West Feliciana Parish, LA 57.5 Elevated -2.7
East Feliciana Parish, LA 49.3 Normal -10.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. West Baton Rouge Parish
Mayes County, OK 60.3 Elevated +0.1
Big Horn County, MT 60.3 Elevated +0.1
Meigs County, TN 60.1 Elevated -0.1
Austin County, TX 60.3 Elevated +0.1
Wood County, TX 60.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for West Baton Rouge Parish as a CSV file.

Find Help in West Baton Rouge 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 West Baton Rouge 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana?

    West Baton Rouge Parish has a County Distress Index score of 60.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 937th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in West Baton Rouge Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in West Baton Rouge Parish is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 74.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does West Baton Rouge Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    West Baton Rouge Parish (60.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: East Baton Rouge Parish, LA (72.6); Pointe Coupee Parish, LA (69.2); Iberville Parish, LA (58.9).

  • 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). West Baton Rouge Parish's score of 60.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power West Baton Rouge Parish's CDI score?

    West Baton Rouge 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 West Baton Rouge Parish?

    West Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 28,266 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.