Door County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.6 | 30,562 people · 65th most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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Door County, WI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.6 — 2998th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 65th of 72 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 6 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Door County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 56.8 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 56.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Housing Cost Burden 39.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 54
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 24
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 65
Homeownership Rate 22
Legal Distress 33.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33
Structural Poverty 24.4
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 23
Consumer Credit Distress 8.2
Debt in Collections 1
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 1
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 6
Subprime Credit Population 1

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Door County
Door County, WI 23.6 Healthy —
Menominee County, MI 40.3 Normal +16.7
Delta County, MI 38.0 Normal +14.4
Brown County, WI 33.1 Healthy +9.5
Benzie County, MI 32.3 Healthy +8.7
Marinette County, WI 30.8 Healthy +7.2
Oconto County, WI 27.7 Healthy +4.1
Kewaunee County, WI 22.6 Healthy -1.0
Leelanau County, MI 18.7 Healthy -4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Door County
Buchanan County, IA 23.8 Healthy +0.2
Yankton County, SD 23.9 Healthy +0.3
Cumberland County, IL 23.3 Healthy -0.3
Carroll County, IA 23.3 Healthy -0.3
Dickinson County, IA 23.9 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Door 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 Door 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Door County has a County Distress Index score of 23.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,998th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 65th in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Door County?

    The primary driver of distress in Door County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 56.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Door County compare to neighboring counties?

    Door County (23.6) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Menominee County, MI (40.3); Delta County, MI (38.0); Brown County, WI (33.1).

  • 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). Door County's score of 23.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Door 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 Door County?

    Door County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 30,562 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.