Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma

County Distress Index: Serious · 70.3 | 73,791 people · 13th most distressed in Oklahoma
American Default Research

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

Pottawatomie County, OK shows significant household financial distress with a score of 70.3 — 377th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Oklahoma, it ranks 13th of 77 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pottawatomie County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 91.1 — worse than roughly 91% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 91.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 91
Consumer Credit Distress 84.0
Debt in Collections 82
Medical Debt 91
Auto Loan Delinquency 83
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 82
Subprime Credit Population 80
Structural Poverty 64.9
Unemployment Rate 67
Poverty Rate 73
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 71
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Housing Cost Burden 48.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 51
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 71
Economic Vitality 44.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 42
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Business Formation Rate 48
House Price Change (YoY) 73

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pottawatomie County
Pottawatomie County, OK 70.3 Serious —
Seminole County, OK 77.0 Serious +6.7
Okfuskee County, OK 71.8 Serious +1.5
Oklahoma County, OK 68.9 Serious -1.4
Lincoln County, OK 61.6 Elevated -8.7
Cleveland County, OK 57.7 Elevated -12.6
McClain County, OK 55.6 Elevated -14.7
Pontotoc County, OK 50.5 Elevated -19.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pottawatomie County
Vigo County, IN 70.3 Serious -0.0
Hernando County, FL 70.1 Serious -0.2
Acadia Parish, LA 70.1 Serious -0.2
Polk County, TX 70.6 Serious +0.3
Pike County, KY 70.6 Serious +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pottawatomie County

Find an Attorney

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

Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral 405-416-7000

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Pottawatomie County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma 1-888-534-5243

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 Oklahoma →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma?

    Pottawatomie County has a County Distress Index score of 70.3 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 377th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Oklahoma out of 77 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pottawatomie County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pottawatomie County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 91.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pottawatomie County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pottawatomie County (70.3) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Seminole County, OK (77.0); Okfuskee County, OK (71.8); Oklahoma County, OK (68.9).

  • 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 Serious 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). Pottawatomie County's score of 70.3 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Pottawatomie 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 Pottawatomie County?

    Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 73,791 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.