Cass County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.3 | 51,642 people · 42nd most distressed in Michigan
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Cass County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.3 — 1826th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Michigan, it ranks 42nd of 83 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cass County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 51.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 51.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 56
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 51
Homeownership Rate 17
Consumer Credit Distress 47.8
Debt in Collections 52
Medical Debt 52
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 53
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 42.7
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 40
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Legal Distress 41.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Economic Vitality 34.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
Cass County, MI 46.3 Normal —
Elkhart County, IN 60.0 Elevated +13.7
St. Joseph County, IN 59.9 Elevated +13.6
Kalamazoo County, MI 52.2 Elevated +5.9
Berrien County, MI 50.9 Elevated +4.6
Van Buren County, MI 49.0 Normal +2.7
St. Joseph County, MI 47.4 Normal +1.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
Yolo County, CA 46.4 Normal +0.1
Bullitt County, KY 46.2 Normal -0.1
Rogers County, OK 46.4 Normal +0.1
Hawaii County, HI 46.1 Normal -0.1
Mesa County, CO 46.1 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cass 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 Cass 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 Cass County, Michigan?

    Cass County has a County Distress Index score of 46.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,826th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cass County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cass County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 51.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Cass County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cass County (46.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Elkhart County, IN (60.0); St. Joseph County, IN (59.9); Kalamazoo County, MI (52.2).

  • 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 Normal 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). Cass County's score of 46.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cass 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 Cass County?

    Cass County, Michigan has a population of approximately 51,642 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.