Lake County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.9 | 10,855 people · 20th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Lake County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.9 — 2322nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Minnesota, it ranks 20th of 87 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lake County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 61.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 61.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 53
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 38
Housing Cost Burden 57.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 5
Structural Poverty 47.8
Unemployment Rate 83
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Legal Distress 36.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 37
Consumer Credit Distress 21.4
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 77
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Lake County, MN 37.9 Normal —
St. Louis County, MN 41.5 Normal +3.7
Ashland County, WI 39.4 Normal +1.5
Douglas County, WI 37.5 Normal -0.3
Bayfield County, WI 28.0 Healthy -9.8
Cook County, MN 24.5 Healthy -13.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lake County
Sanpete County, UT 37.9 Normal +0.0
North Slope Borough, AK 37.9 Normal +0.0
Clark County, IL 37.9 Normal +0.0
Huntingdon County, PA 37.8 Normal -0.1
Lee County, IL 37.8 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lake County

Find an Attorney

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 612-278-6333

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Lake County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-334-5970
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-332-1441
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 1-888-575-2954
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc. (612) 334-5970
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (800) 933-1112
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation (800) 450-8585

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lake County, Minnesota?

    Lake County has a County Distress Index score of 37.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,322nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 20th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lake County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lake County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 61.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Lake County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lake County (37.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: St. Louis County, MN (41.5); Ashland County, WI (39.4); Douglas County, WI (37.5).

  • 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 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). Lake County's score of 37.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lake 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 Lake County?

    Lake County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 10,855 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.