Arenac County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.6 | 15,145 people · 24th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Arenac County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.6 — 1471st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Michigan, it ranks 24th of 83 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Arenac County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 79.1 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 79.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 79
Structural Poverty 77.1
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 61
Income vs. State Median 67
Child Poverty Rate 73
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 93
Economic Vitality 52.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 50.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 61
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 5
Consumer Credit Distress 40.4
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 57
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Arenac County
Arenac County, MI 51.6 Elevated —
Ogemaw County, MI 54.9 Elevated +3.3
Gladwin County, MI 46.0 Normal -5.6
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal -7.0
Iosco County, MI 43.2 Normal -8.4
Huron County, MI 33.0 Healthy -18.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Arenac County
Humphreys County, TN 51.6 Elevated -0.0
Green County, KY 51.6 Elevated -0.0
Barton County, MO 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Wasco County, OR 51.6 Elevated -0.1
Patrick County, VA 51.6 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Arenac County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-968-0738

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Arenac County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit 313-967-5555
Michigan Legal Help / Wolverine Legal Aid
Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan 248-548-3838
Michigan Advocacy Program 616-774-0672
Legal Services of South Central Michigan 734-665-6181
Lakeshore Legal Aid (888) 783-8190
Legal Aid of Western Michigan (616) 774-0672
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (800) 322-4512
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc. (906) 786-2303

Self-Help Resources

Michigan Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides and interactive tools for Michigan foreclosure process and defenses
MSHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and MIHAF information

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 Michigan →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Arenac County, Michigan?

    Arenac County has a County Distress Index score of 51.6 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,471st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Arenac County?

    The primary driver of distress in Arenac County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 79.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Arenac County compare to neighboring counties?

    Arenac County (51.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ogemaw County, MI (54.9); Gladwin County, MI (46.0); Bay County, MI (44.7).

  • 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). Arenac County's score of 51.6 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Arenac 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 Arenac County?

    Arenac County, Michigan has a population of approximately 15,145 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.