Chippewa County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.4 | 66,970 people · 52nd most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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

Chippewa County, WI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.4 — 2873rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 52nd of 72 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chippewa County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 48.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 48.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 63
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Housing Cost Burden 48.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 61
Homeownership Rate 49
Legal Distress 37.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 38
Structural Poverty 25.3
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 15
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Consumer Credit Distress 12.5
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 28
Auto Loan Delinquency 8
Credit Card Delinquency 4
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 17

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chippewa County
Chippewa County, WI 27.4 Healthy —
Rusk County, WI 42.5 Normal +15.2
Dunn County, WI 32.1 Healthy +4.7
Barron County, WI 30.8 Healthy +3.5
Eau Claire County, WI 30.7 Healthy +3.3
Clark County, WI 28.4 Healthy +1.0
Taylor County, WI 27.9 Healthy +0.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chippewa County
Columbia County, WI 27.4 Healthy -0.0
Washington County, VT 27.5 Healthy +0.1
Portage County, WI 27.9 Healthy +0.5
Otter Tail County, MN 26.8 Healthy -0.6
Burleigh County, ND 26.8 Healthy -0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chippewa County

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of Wisconsin — Lawyer Referral and Information Service 608-257-4666 (Madison); 414-274-6768 (Milwaukee)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Chippewa County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee 414-278-7722
Legal Action of Wisconsin 608-256-3191 (Madison); 414-278-7722 (Milwaukee)
Wisconsin Judicare 715-842-1681 (Wausau); 1-800-472-1638 (statewide)
Disability Rights Wisconsin 608-267-0214
Judicare Legal Aid (715) 842-1681

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 Wisconsin →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Chippewa County, Wisconsin?

    Chippewa County has a County Distress Index score of 27.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,873rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chippewa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chippewa County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 48.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Chippewa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chippewa County (27.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Rusk County, WI (42.5); Dunn County, WI (32.1); Barron County, WI (30.8).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Chippewa County's score of 27.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Chippewa 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 Chippewa County?

    Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 66,970 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.