Manistee County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.9 | 25,562 people · 40th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Manistee County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.9 — 1787th 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 40th of 83 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Manistee County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 73.4 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 73.4
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 63
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 89
Housing Cost Burden 67.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 1
Economic Vitality 54.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 57
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 39
Legal Distress 35.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 35
Consumer Credit Distress 30.0
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 33
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Uninsured Rate 10
Subprime Credit Population 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Manistee County
Manistee County, MI 46.9 Normal —
Lake County, MI 58.9 Elevated +12.1
Wexford County, MI 52.2 Elevated +5.3
Mason County, MI 39.7 Normal -7.2
Grand Traverse County, MI 34.6 Healthy -12.3
Benzie County, MI 32.3 Healthy -14.5
Manitowoc County, WI 25.6 Healthy -21.3
Kewaunee County, WI 22.6 Healthy -24.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Manistee County
Callaway County, MO 46.8 Normal -0.0
Madison County, OH 46.9 Normal +0.0
Colusa County, CA 46.8 Normal -0.1
Salem city, VA 47.0 Normal +0.1
Fayette County, TX 46.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Manistee 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 Manistee 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 Manistee County, Michigan?

    Manistee County has a County Distress Index score of 46.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,787th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Manistee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Manistee County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 73.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Manistee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Manistee County (46.9) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Lake County, MI (58.9); Wexford County, MI (52.2); Mason County, MI (39.7).

  • 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). Manistee County's score of 46.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Manistee 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 Manistee County?

    Manistee County, Michigan has a population of approximately 25,562 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.