Chippewa County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.7 | 36,264 people · 47th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Chippewa County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.7 — 1971st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Michigan, it ranks 47th of 83 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chippewa County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 63.2 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 63.3
Unemployment Rate 96
Poverty Rate 50
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 48
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 71
Economic Vitality 53.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 44
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 36
Housing Cost Burden 51.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 63
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 32
Homeownership Rate 54
Consumer Credit Distress 38.3
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 79
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 15
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 37
Legal Distress 7.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chippewa County
Chippewa County, MI 43.7 Normal —
Luce County, MI 50.4 Elevated +6.7
Mackinac County, MI 35.0 Healthy -8.7
Presque Isle County, MI 30.5 Healthy -13.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chippewa County
Ripley County, IN 43.7 Normal -0.0
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal +0.1
Hill County, MT 43.8 Normal +0.1
Delaware County, NY 43.6 Normal -0.1
Paulding County, OH 43.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chippewa 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 Chippewa 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 Chippewa County, Michigan?

    Chippewa County has a County Distress Index score of 43.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,971st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chippewa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chippewa County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 63.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Chippewa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chippewa County (43.7) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Luce County, MI (50.4); Mackinac County, MI (35.0); Presque Isle County, MI (30.5).

  • 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). Chippewa County's score of 43.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Chippewa 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 Chippewa County?

    Chippewa County, Michigan has a population of approximately 36,264 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.