Pine County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.7 | 30,197 people · 3rd most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Pine County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.7 — 1861st 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 3rd of 87 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pine County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.0 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Economic Vitality 62.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 48
Structural Poverty 61.3
Unemployment Rate 99
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 66
Transfer Income Dependency 82
Housing Cost Burden 57.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 65
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 8
Consumer Credit Distress 28.0
Debt in Collections 32
Medical Debt 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 42
Uninsured Rate 25
Subprime Credit Population 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pine County
Pine County, MN 45.7 Normal —
Isanti County, MN 43.6 Normal -2.2
Kanabec County, MN 39.2 Normal -6.6
Chisago County, MN 38.2 Normal -7.5
Douglas County, WI 37.5 Normal -8.2
Burnett County, WI 33.6 Healthy -12.1
Carlton County, MN 32.8 Healthy -12.9
Aitkin County, MN 32.6 Healthy -13.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pine County
Middlesex County, VA 45.7 Normal -0.1
Lancaster County, VA 45.8 Normal +0.1
Barton County, KS 45.6 Normal -0.1
Adams County, NE 45.9 Normal +0.1
Transylvania County, NC 45.5 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pine 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 Pine 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 Pine County, Minnesota?

    Pine County has a County Distress Index score of 45.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,861st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 3rd in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pine County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pine County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pine County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pine County (45.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Isanti County, MN (43.6); Kanabec County, MN (39.2); Chisago County, MN (38.2).

  • 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). Pine County's score of 45.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Pine 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 Pine County?

    Pine County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 30,197 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.