Gogebic County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.0 | 14,224 people · 30th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Gogebic County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.0 — 1639th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Michigan, it ranks 30th of 83 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gogebic County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 84.5 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 84.5
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 75
Income vs. State Median 92
Child Poverty Rate 83
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 94
Economic Vitality 56.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 76
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 16
Housing Cost Burden 45.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 53
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 16
Consumer Credit Distress 42.6
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 35
Legal Distress 27.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gogebic County
Gogebic County, MI 49.0 Normal —
Iron County, MI 47.6 Normal -1.5
Iron County, WI 46.1 Normal -3.0
Ashland County, WI 39.4 Normal -9.6
Ontonagon County, MI 35.9 Normal -13.2
Vilas County, WI 24.4 Healthy -24.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gogebic County
Lawrence County, IN 49.0 Normal -0.0
Sullivan County, NH 49.0 Normal -0.0
Rabun County, GA 49.1 Normal +0.0
Marshall County, KY 49.0 Normal -0.0
Curry County, OR 49.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gogebic 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 Gogebic 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Gogebic County has a County Distress Index score of 49.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,639th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gogebic County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gogebic County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 84.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Gogebic County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gogebic County (49.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Iron County, MI (47.6); Iron County, WI (46.1); Ashland County, WI (39.4).

  • 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). Gogebic County's score of 49.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gogebic 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 Gogebic County?

    Gogebic County, Michigan has a population of approximately 14,224 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.