Wadena County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.7 | 14,241 people · 8th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Wadena County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.7 — 2082nd 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 8th of 87 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wadena County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 82.2 — worse than roughly 82% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 82.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 82
Structural Poverty 71.5
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 49
Income vs. State Median 94
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 47
Transfer Income Dependency 90
Economic Vitality 54.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 58
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Housing Cost Burden 43.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 48
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 60
Consumer Credit Distress 23.8
Debt in Collections 21
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wadena County
Wadena County, MN 41.7 Normal —
Hubbard County, MN 36.4 Normal -5.3
Cass County, MN 33.5 Healthy -8.2
Todd County, MN 32.0 Healthy -9.7
Becker County, MN 30.7 Healthy -11.0
Otter Tail County, MN 26.8 Healthy -14.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wadena County
Huntington County, IN 41.7 Normal -0.0
Cheboygan County, MI 41.7 Normal -0.0
Webster County, IA 41.6 Normal -0.1
Isle of Wight County, VA 41.6 Normal -0.1
Mower County, MN 41.5 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wadena 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 Wadena 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 Wadena County, Minnesota?

    Wadena County has a County Distress Index score of 41.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,082nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 8th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wadena County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wadena County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 82.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wadena County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wadena County (41.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Hubbard County, MN (36.4); Cass County, MN (33.5); Todd County, MN (32.0).

  • 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). Wadena County's score of 41.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Wadena 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 Wadena County?

    Wadena County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 14,241 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.