Oakland County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.1 | 1,270,426 people · 59th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Oakland County is the county that escaped Detroit. Median household income runs 1.53 times the Michigan figure. Poverty sits at 8.3%. The homeownership rate is 72.3%. The overall score of 28.5 makes it Healthy. And then you see the bankruptcy filings. At 206.8 per 100,000 residents, Oakland County's filing rate is the kind of number you'd expect in a distressed county, not one scoring in the bottom fifth nationally. Student loan delinquency runs at 14.3%. These are legacy debt markers in a county where current income looks strong. The households earning good wages in 2025 are still carrying obligations from a different economic era. Michigan's auto industry collapse and housing crisis left scars that high incomes haven't fully healed. Next door, Wayne County (Detroit) scores 65.1, Serious. Genesee County (Flint) hits 61.2. Oakland County sits at the center of a metropolitan region where crossing a county line can mean a 37-point swing in financial distress. The prosperity is real. The boundary separating it from deep structural hardship is exactly one border wide.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Oakland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.2 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Housing Cost Burden 67.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 72
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 61
Consumer Credit Distress 29.3
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 48
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 23
Economic Vitality 19.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Structural Poverty 12.6
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Oakland County
Oakland County, MI 38.1 Normal —
Wayne County, MI 76.2 Serious +38.1
Genesee County, MI 68.0 Serious +30.0
Macomb County, MI 54.1 Elevated +16.0
Lapeer County, MI 48.8 Normal +10.8
Washtenaw County, MI 41.9 Normal +3.8
Livingston County, MI 26.6 Healthy -11.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Oakland County
Hennepin County, MN 37.5 Normal -0.6
Alameda County, CA 39.3 Normal +1.2
Nassau County, NY 36.0 Normal -2.0
Montgomery County, MD 40.3 Normal +2.3
New York County, NY 40.4 Normal +2.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Oakland County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Oakland County.

COMMUNITY HOUSING NETWORK, INC
Troy
248-928-0111
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement
GESHER HUMAN SERVICES
Southfield
248-233-4299 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/Displacement
GREENPATH FINANCIAL WELLNESS
Farmington Hills
800-550-1961 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
GREENPATH, INC.
Farmington Hills
888-860-4167 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF OAKLAND COUNTY, INC.
Pontiac
248-338-1843 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase

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 Oakland 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 Oakland County, Michigan?

    Oakland County has a County Distress Index score of 38.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,308th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Oakland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Oakland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Oakland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Oakland County (38.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Wayne County, MI (76.2); Genesee County, MI (68.0); Macomb County, MI (54.1).

  • 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). Oakland County's score of 38.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Oakland 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 Oakland County?

    Oakland County, Michigan has a population of approximately 1,270,426 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a metro county.