Saginaw County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.1 | 187,782 people · 4th most distressed in Michigan
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Saginaw County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.1 — 769th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Michigan, it ranks 4th of 83 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Saginaw County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 94.3 — worse than roughly 94% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 94.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 94
Housing Cost Burden 81.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 93
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 91
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 55
Structural Poverty 69.7
Unemployment Rate 92
Poverty Rate 69
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 72
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Consumer Credit Distress 51.1
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 41
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 53
Economic Vitality 45.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 64
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Saginaw County
Saginaw County, MI 63.1 Elevated —
Genesee County, MI 68.0 Serious +5.0
Shiawassee County, MI 51.5 Elevated -11.6
Gratiot County, MI 47.5 Normal -15.6
Tuscola County, MI 45.8 Normal -17.3
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal -18.4
Midland County, MI 36.3 Normal -26.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Saginaw County
Faulkner County, AR 63.0 Elevated -0.1
Bedford County, TN 63.2 Elevated +0.1
Coconino County, AZ 63.2 Elevated +0.1
Colbert County, AL 63.2 Elevated +0.2
Midland County, TX 62.9 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Saginaw 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 Saginaw 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 Saginaw County, Michigan?

    Saginaw County has a County Distress Index score of 63.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 769th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Saginaw County?

    The primary driver of distress in Saginaw County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 94.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Saginaw County compare to neighboring counties?

    Saginaw County (63.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Genesee County, MI (68.0); Shiawassee County, MI (51.5); Gratiot County, MI (47.5).

  • 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). Saginaw County's score of 63.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Saginaw 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 Saginaw County?

    Saginaw County, Michigan has a population of approximately 187,782 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.