Mason County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.7 | 29,159 people · 56th most distressed in Michigan
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Mason County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.7 — 2210th 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 56th of 83 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mason County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 68.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 68.5
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 67
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 54.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 60
House Price Change (YoY) 75
Housing Cost Burden 44.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 31
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 29
Legal Distress 34.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 26.9
Debt in Collections 23
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Mason County, MI 39.7 Normal —
Lake County, MI 58.9 Elevated +19.2
Manistee County, MI 46.9 Normal +7.2
Newaygo County, MI 43.9 Normal +4.2
Oceana County, MI 34.3 Healthy -5.4
Sheboygan County, WI 26.3 Healthy -13.4
Manitowoc County, WI 25.6 Healthy -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mason County
Douglas County, WA 39.7 Normal -0.0
Benton County, MN 39.6 Normal -0.0
Defiance County, OH 39.6 Normal -0.0
Mitchell County, NC 39.7 Normal +0.1
Johnson County, IL 39.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mason 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 Mason 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 Mason County, Michigan?

    Mason County has a County Distress Index score of 39.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,210th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 56th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mason County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mason County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 68.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Mason County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mason County (39.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lake County, MI (58.9); Manistee County, MI (46.9); Newaygo County, MI (43.9).

  • 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). Mason County's score of 39.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mason 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 Mason County?

    Mason County, Michigan has a population of approximately 29,159 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.