Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.3 | 144,252 people · 18th most distressed in Pennsylvania
American Default Research

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Lebanon County, PA registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.3 — 1556th 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 Pennsylvania, it ranks 18th of 67 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lebanon County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 71.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 71.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 75
Homeownership Rate 65
Economic Vitality 69.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 16
Consumer Credit Distress 46.8
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 57
Auto Loan Delinquency 54
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 37
Legal Distress 36.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Structural Poverty 23.1
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 35

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lebanon County
Lebanon County, PA 50.3 Elevated —
Berks County, PA 59.4 Elevated +9.1
Dauphin County, PA 57.1 Elevated +6.9
Schuylkill County, PA 51.2 Elevated +0.9
Lancaster County, PA 42.5 Normal -7.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lebanon County
Oneida County, NY 50.3 Elevated -0.0
Stanly County, NC 50.3 Elevated -0.0
Twin Falls County, ID 50.2 Elevated -0.0
Daviess County, KY 50.4 Elevated +0.1
Sandoval County, NM 50.4 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lebanon County

Find an Attorney

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

Pennsylvania Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-932-0311

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Lebanon County residents at no cost.

Community Legal Services of Philadelphia 215-981-3700
MidPenn Legal Services 1-800-326-9177
Neighborhood Legal Services Association 412-255-6700
Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network (PLAN)
Laurel Legal Services, Inc. (800) 253-9558
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (877) 429-5994
North Penn Legal Services, Inc. (877) 953-4250
Northwestern Legal Services (814) 452-6957
Philadelphia Legal Assistance Center (215) 981-3800
Summit Legal Aid (800) 846-0871

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Lebanon County, Pennsylvania?

    Lebanon County has a County Distress Index score of 50.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,556th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lebanon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lebanon County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 71.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lebanon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lebanon County (50.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Berks County, PA (59.4); Dauphin County, PA (57.1); Schuylkill County, PA (51.2).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Lebanon County's score of 50.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Lebanon 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 Lebanon County?

    Lebanon County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 144,252 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.