Tuscola County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.8 | 52,826 people · 44th most distressed in Michigan
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Tuscola County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.8 — 1858th 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 44th 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. Tuscola County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.6 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 84
Structural Poverty 65.3
Unemployment Rate 89
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 35
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Housing Cost Burden 44.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 43
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 59
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 3
Economic Vitality 39.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 31
Rent-to-Income Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 87
House Price Change (YoY) 46
Consumer Credit Distress 36.3
Debt in Collections 41
Medical Debt 59
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Tuscola County
Tuscola County, MI 45.8 Normal —
Genesee County, MI 68.0 Serious +22.2
Saginaw County, MI 63.1 Elevated +17.3
Lapeer County, MI 48.8 Normal +3.0
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal -1.1
Sanilac County, MI 42.5 Normal -3.3
Huron County, MI 33.0 Healthy -12.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Tuscola County
Kennebec County, ME 45.8 Normal +0.0
Johnson County, MO 45.8 Normal -0.0
Dickson County, TN 45.9 Normal +0.0
Strafford County, NH 45.9 Normal +0.0
Santa Fe County, NM 45.9 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Tuscola 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 Tuscola 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 Tuscola County, Michigan?

    Tuscola County has a County Distress Index score of 45.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,858th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Tuscola County?

    The primary driver of distress in Tuscola County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Tuscola County compare to neighboring counties?

    Tuscola County (45.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Genesee County, MI (68.0); Saginaw County, MI (63.1); Lapeer County, MI (48.8).

  • 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). Tuscola County's score of 45.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Tuscola 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 Tuscola County?

    Tuscola County, Michigan has a population of approximately 52,826 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.