West Carroll Parish, Louisiana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.7 | 9,323 people · 61st most distressed in Louisiana
American Default Research

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West Carroll Parish, LA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.7 — 1359th 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 61st of 64 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. West Carroll Parish's primary driver is Legal Distress at 87.3 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 87.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 87
Structural Poverty 85.2
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 84
Income vs. State Median 77
Child Poverty Rate 91
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Consumer Credit Distress 59.9
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 72
Economic Vitality 40.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 35
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 27
House Price Change (YoY) 66
Housing Cost Burden 15.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 6
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. West Carroll Parish
West Carroll Parish, LA 53.7 Elevated —
East Carroll Parish, LA 82.9 Crisis +29.2
Morehouse Parish, LA 82.1 Crisis +28.4
Chicot County, AR 76.1 Serious +22.4
Richland Parish, LA 73.0 Serious +19.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. West Carroll Parish
Castro County, TX 53.8 Elevated +0.1
Quay County, NM 53.6 Elevated -0.1
Rosebud County, MT 53.9 Elevated +0.2
Collingsworth County, TX 53.4 Elevated -0.3
Grand County, UT 53.3 Elevated -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in West Carroll 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 Carroll 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 West Carroll Parish, Louisiana?

    West Carroll Parish has a County Distress Index score of 53.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,359th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Louisiana out of 64 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in West Carroll Parish?

    The primary driver of distress in West Carroll Parish is Legal Distress, where the county scores 87.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does West Carroll Parish compare to neighboring counties?

    West Carroll Parish (53.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: East Carroll Parish, LA (82.9); Morehouse Parish, LA (82.1); Chicot County, AR (76.1).

  • 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 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 Carroll Parish's score of 53.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    West Carroll 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 Carroll Parish?

    West Carroll Parish, Louisiana has a population of approximately 9,323 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.