Mecosta County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 54.3 | 41,099 people · 16th most distressed in Michigan
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Mecosta County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 54.3 — 1324th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Michigan, it ranks 16th of 83 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mecosta County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 84
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 42
Structural Poverty 70.5
Unemployment Rate 91
Poverty Rate 80
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Economic Vitality 59.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 44
Business Formation Rate 78
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Consumer Credit Distress 43.0
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 27
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 45
Legal Distress 34.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mecosta County
Mecosta County, MI 54.3 Elevated —
Clare County, MI 60.0 Elevated +5.7
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated +5.5
Lake County, MI 58.9 Elevated +4.6
Osceola County, MI 54.4 Elevated +0.1
Montcalm County, MI 47.1 Normal -7.2
Newaygo County, MI 43.9 Normal -10.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mecosta County
Bath County, KY 54.3 Elevated +0.0
Colfax County, NM 54.3 Elevated -0.0
Dickenson County, VA 54.3 Elevated -0.0
Baxter County, AR 54.2 Elevated -0.1
Fulton County, IN 54.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mecosta 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 Mecosta 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 Mecosta County, Michigan?

    Mecosta County has a County Distress Index score of 54.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,324th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mecosta County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mecosta County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Mecosta County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mecosta County (54.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Clare County, MI (60.0); Isabella County, MI (59.8); Lake County, MI (58.9).

  • 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 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). Mecosta County's score of 54.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Mecosta 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 Mecosta County?

    Mecosta County, Michigan has a population of approximately 41,099 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.