Gratiot County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.5 | 41,368 people · 37th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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

Gratiot County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.5 — 1748th 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 37th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gratiot County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 68.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 68.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Structural Poverty 64.2
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 58
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Housing Cost Burden 61.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 80
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 24
Economic Vitality 36.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 43
Consumer Credit Distress 35.1
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 32
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 46

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gratiot County
Gratiot County, MI 47.5 Normal —
Saginaw County, MI 63.1 Elevated +15.6
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated +12.3
Shiawassee County, MI 51.5 Elevated +4.0
Ionia County, MI 48.2 Normal +0.7
Montcalm County, MI 47.1 Normal -0.4
Midland County, MI 36.3 Normal -11.2
Clinton County, MI 28.9 Healthy -18.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gratiot County
Sweetwater County, WY 47.5 Normal -0.0
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal -0.1
Marion County, AR 47.6 Normal +0.1
Iron County, MI 47.6 Normal +0.1
Champaign County, OH 47.6 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gratiot 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 Gratiot 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 Gratiot County, Michigan?

    Gratiot County has a County Distress Index score of 47.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,748th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 37th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gratiot County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gratiot County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 68.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gratiot County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gratiot County (47.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Saginaw County, MI (63.1); Isabella County, MI (59.8); Shiawassee County, MI (51.5).

  • 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). Gratiot County's score of 47.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gratiot 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 Gratiot County?

    Gratiot County, Michigan has a population of approximately 41,368 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.