Mille Lacs County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.1 | 27,427 people · 7th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Mille Lacs County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.1 — 2060th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Minnesota, it ranks 7th of 87 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mille Lacs County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 83.0 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 83.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 83
Housing Cost Burden 59.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 67
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 97
Homeownership Rate 31
Structural Poverty 54.1
Unemployment Rate 99
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 54
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 70
Economic Vitality 53.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 51
House Price Change (YoY) 29
Consumer Credit Distress 21.9
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 12
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mille Lacs County
Mille Lacs County, MN 42.1 Normal —
Isanti County, MN 43.6 Normal +1.5
Benton County, MN 39.6 Normal -2.5
Kanabec County, MN 39.2 Normal -2.9
Crow Wing County, MN 34.9 Healthy -7.2
Sherburne County, MN 32.9 Healthy -9.2
Aitkin County, MN 32.6 Healthy -9.5
Morrison County, MN 25.1 Healthy -17.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mille Lacs County
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal +0.0
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal -0.0
Moffat County, CO 42.2 Normal +0.1
Polk County, NC 42.2 Normal +0.1
Shelby County, OH 42.2 Normal +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Mille Lacs County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Minnesota →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Mille Lacs County, Minnesota?

    Mille Lacs County has a County Distress Index score of 42.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,060th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mille Lacs County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mille Lacs County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 83.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Mille Lacs County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mille Lacs County (42.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Isanti County, MN (43.6); Benton County, MN (39.6); Kanabec County, MN (39.2).

  • 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). Mille Lacs County's score of 42.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Mille Lacs County's CDI score?

    Mille Lacs 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 Mille Lacs County?

    Mille Lacs County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 27,427 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.