Dickinson County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.3 | 25,982 people · 55th most distressed in Michigan
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Dickinson County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.2 — 2176th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Michigan, it ranks 55th of 83 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. Dickinson County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 53.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 53.0
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 32
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Housing Cost Burden 51.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 45
Homeownership Rate 11
Consumer Credit Distress 37.5
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 15
Economic Vitality 30.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 27
Business Formation Rate 85
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Legal Distress 13.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickinson County
Dickinson County, MI 40.3 Normal —
Iron County, MI 47.6 Normal +7.3
Menominee County, MI 40.3 Normal +0.0
Marquette County, MI 39.0 Normal -1.3
Marinette County, WI 30.8 Healthy -9.5
Florence County, WI 24.4 Healthy -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickinson County
Nez Perce County, ID 40.2 Normal -0.0
Sevier County, UT 40.3 Normal +0.0
Dawson County, NE 40.2 Normal -0.0
Menominee County, MI 40.3 Normal +0.0
Mineral County, WV 40.3 Normal +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dickinson 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 Dickinson 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 Dickinson County, Michigan?

    Dickinson County has a County Distress Index score of 40.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,176th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dickinson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dickinson County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 53.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Dickinson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dickinson County (40.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Iron County, MI (47.6); Menominee County, MI (40.3); Marquette County, MI (39.0).

  • 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). Dickinson County's score of 40.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Dickinson 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 Dickinson County?

    Dickinson County, Michigan has a population of approximately 25,982 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.