Jackson County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.5 | 159,424 people · 8th most distressed in Michigan
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Jackson County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.5 — 1042nd 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 8th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Jackson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.3 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 77
Housing Cost Burden 74.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 47
Consumer Credit Distress 53.3
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 56
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 49
Structural Poverty 51.0
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 56
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 56
Economic Vitality 42.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 26
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 65
House Price Change (YoY) 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
Jackson County, MI 58.5 Elevated —
Calhoun County, MI 65.1 Serious +6.6
Ingham County, MI 56.9 Elevated -1.6
Lenawee County, MI 51.8 Elevated -6.7
Hillsdale County, MI 48.3 Normal -10.2
Washtenaw County, MI 41.9 Normal -16.6
Eaton County, MI 40.8 Normal -17.7
Livingston County, MI 26.6 Healthy -31.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jackson County
LaPorte County, IN 58.4 Elevated -0.1
Hood County, TX 58.4 Elevated -0.1
Alamance County, NC 58.7 Elevated +0.2
Morgan County, AL 58.3 Elevated -0.2
Richland County, OH 58.3 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jackson County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Jackson County.

COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY
Jackson
517-784-4800 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement

See all counselors in Michigan →

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 Jackson 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 Jackson County, Michigan?

    Jackson County has a County Distress Index score of 58.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,042nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jackson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jackson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jackson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jackson County (58.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Calhoun County, MI (65.1); Ingham County, MI (56.9); Lenawee County, MI (51.8).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Jackson County's score of 58.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Jackson 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 Jackson County?

    Jackson County, Michigan has a population of approximately 159,424 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.