Shiawassee County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.5 | 68,025 people · 25th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Shiawassee County, MI registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.5 — 1485th 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 25th 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. Shiawassee County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.7 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Housing Cost Burden 65.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 76
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 22
Structural Poverty 51.7
Unemployment Rate 86
Poverty Rate 39
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 43
Disability Rate 54
Transfer Income Dependency 60
Economic Vitality 47.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 49
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 65
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Consumer Credit Distress 40.8
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 31
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Shiawassee County
Shiawassee County, MI 51.5 Elevated —
Genesee County, MI 68.0 Serious +16.5
Saginaw County, MI 63.1 Elevated +11.6
Ingham County, MI 56.9 Elevated +5.4
Gratiot County, MI 47.5 Normal -4.0
Clinton County, MI 28.9 Healthy -22.6
Livingston County, MI 26.6 Healthy -25.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Shiawassee County
Wood County, WV 51.5 Elevated -0.0
Cattaraugus County, NY 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated -0.0
Woodbury County, IA 51.5 Elevated +0.0
Chautauqua County, NY 51.6 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee County, Michigan?

    Shiawassee County has a County Distress Index score of 51.5 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,485th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Shiawassee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Shiawassee County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Shiawassee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Shiawassee County (51.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Genesee County, MI (68.0); Saginaw County, MI (63.1); Ingham County, MI (56.9).

  • 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). Shiawassee County's score of 51.5 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Shiawassee 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 Shiawassee County?

    Shiawassee County, Michigan has a population of approximately 68,025 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.