Monroe County, Pennsylvania

County Distress Index: Serious · 68.2 | 166,053 people · 2nd most distressed in Pennsylvania
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Monroe County, PA shows significant household financial distress with a score of 68.2 — 479th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Pennsylvania, it ranks 2nd of 67 counties. It scores higher than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Monroe County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.3 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Housing Cost Burden 80.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 92
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 90
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 92
Homeownership Rate 21
Consumer Credit Distress 69.8
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 71
Auto Loan Delinquency 73
Credit Card Delinquency 81
Uninsured Rate 35
Subprime Credit Population 75
Economic Vitality 68.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 90
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Structural Poverty 33.4
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 29
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 40

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Monroe County, PA 68.2 Serious —
Luzerne County, PA 62.1 Elevated -6.1
Lackawanna County, PA 59.7 Elevated -8.5
Pike County, PA 59.5 Elevated -8.7
Carbon County, PA 56.2 Elevated -12.0
Northampton County, PA 53.0 Elevated -15.2
Warren County, NJ 43.8 Normal -24.4
Wayne County, PA 43.4 Normal -24.8
Sussex County, NJ 41.8 Normal -26.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Monroe County
Camden County, GA 68.2 Serious +0.0
Marion County, OH 68.2 Serious +0.0
Cabell County, WV 68.2 Serious -0.0
Roanoke city, VA 68.3 Serious +0.1
Barrow County, GA 68.1 Serious -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe 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 Monroe 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

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 Monroe County, Pennsylvania?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 68.2 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 479th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Pennsylvania out of 67 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (68.2) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Luzerne County, PA (62.1); Lackawanna County, PA (59.7); Pike County, PA (59.5).

  • 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). Monroe County's score of 68.2 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Monroe 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, Pennsylvania has a population of approximately 166,053 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.