Midland County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.3 | 84,039 people · 63rd most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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

Midland County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.3 — 2408th 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 63rd of 83 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Midland County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 28
Legal Distress 59.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Structural Poverty 33.0
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 31
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Economic Vitality 25.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Business Formation Rate 63
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Consumer Credit Distress 18.8
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 39
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Midland County
Midland County, MI 36.3 Normal —
Saginaw County, MI 63.1 Elevated +26.8
Clare County, MI 60.0 Elevated +23.7
Isabella County, MI 59.8 Elevated +23.5
Gratiot County, MI 47.5 Normal +11.2
Gladwin County, MI 46.0 Normal +9.7
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal +8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Midland County
Gallatin County, MT 36.3 Normal +0.1
Merrimack County, NH 36.2 Normal -0.1
Washington County, PA 36.2 Normal -0.1
Queen Anne's County, MD 36.4 Normal +0.1
Johnson County, IA 36.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Midland 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 Midland 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 Midland County, Michigan?

    Midland County has a County Distress Index score of 36.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,408th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Midland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Midland County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Midland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Midland County (36.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Saginaw County, MI (63.1); Clare County, MI (60.0); Isabella County, MI (59.8).

  • 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 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). Midland County's score of 36.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Midland 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 Midland County?

    Midland County, Michigan has a population of approximately 84,039 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.