Polk County, Oregon

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.7 | 89,805 people · 21st most distressed in Oregon
American Default Research

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Polk County, OR falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.7 — 1667th 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 Oregon, it ranks 21st of 36 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more 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 87.1 — worse than roughly 87% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 77
Homeownership Rate 85
Economic Vitality 74.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 70
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Legal Distress 73.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 74
Structural Poverty 38.1
Unemployment Rate 78
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 55
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Consumer Credit Distress 24.8
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Polk County, OR 48.7 Normal —
Marion County, OR 58.3 Elevated +9.6
Lincoln County, OR 56.5 Elevated +7.9
Linn County, OR 55.9 Elevated +7.3
Yamhill County, OR 50.8 Elevated +2.1
Tillamook County, OR 42.5 Normal -6.2
Benton County, OR 39.4 Normal -9.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Polk County
Monroe County, MI 48.7 Normal +0.0
Columbia County, OR 48.7 Normal +0.0
Grant County, WA 48.6 Normal -0.0
Eddy County, NM 48.5 Normal -0.1
Cambria County, PA 48.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Polk County

Find an Attorney

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 503-684-3763 (Portland); 1-800-452-7636 (statewide)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Polk County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon 503-684-1032 (Portland); 1-800-684-1032 (statewide hotline)
Oregon Law Center 541-672-3429 (Roseburg); 541-485-1017 (Eugene)
Willamette Law Online — Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Project 503-370-6051

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, Oregon?

    Polk County has a County Distress Index score of 48.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,667th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Oregon out of 36 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Polk County?

    The primary driver of distress in Polk County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.1 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 (48.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Marion County, OR (58.3); Lincoln County, OR (56.5); Linn County, OR (55.9).

  • 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 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 48.7 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, Oregon has a population of approximately 89,805 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.