Polk County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.6 | 30,412 people · 23rd most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Polk County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.6 — 2386th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Minnesota, it ranks 23rd of 87 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Polk County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 83.8 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 83.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 91
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 61
Economic Vitality 44.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 77
House Price Change (YoY) 52
Structural Poverty 43.2
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 26
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Legal Distress 40.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 40
Consumer Credit Distress 10.5
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 4
Credit Card Delinquency 8
Uninsured Rate 16
Subprime Credit Population 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Polk County, MN 36.6 Normal —
Mahnomen County, MN 48.0 Normal +11.4
Grand Forks County, ND 35.7 Normal -0.9
Norman County, MN 35.1 Normal -1.5
Pennington County, MN 31.1 Healthy -5.5
Clearwater County, MN 28.4 Healthy -8.2
Red Lake County, MN 22.9 Healthy -13.6
Traill County, ND 20.0 Healthy -16.6
Marshall County, MN 19.8 Healthy -16.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
New Kent County, VA 36.5 Normal -0.0
Richland County, IL 36.5 Normal -0.1
Latah County, ID 36.7 Normal +0.1
Carroll County, IN 36.5 Normal -0.1
Lavaca County, TX 36.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Polk 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 Polk 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 Polk County, Minnesota?

    Polk County has a County Distress Index score of 36.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,386th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 23rd in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Polk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Polk County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 83.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Polk County compare to neighboring counties?

    Polk County (36.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Mahnomen County, MN (48.0); Grand Forks County, ND (35.7); Norman County, MN (35.1).

  • 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). Polk County's score of 36.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Polk 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 Polk County?

    Polk County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 30,412 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.