Iowa County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Healthy · 19.4 | 23,956 people · 72nd most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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

Iowa County, WI ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 19.4 — 3086th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 72nd 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. Iowa County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 36.5 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 36.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 53
Rent-to-Income Ratio 20
Business Formation Rate 21
House Price Change (YoY) 32
Legal Distress 36.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 36
Housing Cost Burden 31.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 24
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 22
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 80
Homeownership Rate 35
Structural Poverty 16.0
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Consumer Credit Distress 9.0
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 8
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 4
Subprime Credit Population 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Iowa County
Iowa County, WI 19.4 Healthy —
Sauk County, WI 37.3 Normal +17.9
Grant County, WI 35.2 Normal +15.9
Dane County, WI 35.0 Healthy +15.6
Richland County, WI 31.0 Healthy +11.6
Lafayette County, WI 24.8 Healthy +5.4
Green County, WI 22.5 Healthy +3.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Iowa County
Holmes County, OH 19.5 Healthy +0.1
Washington County, IL 19.8 Healthy +0.4
Osage County, MO 19.8 Healthy +0.4
Leelanau County, MI 18.7 Healthy -0.6
Monroe County, IL 20.1 Healthy +0.7

Download Data

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

Find Help in Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa County, Wisconsin?

    Iowa County has a County Distress Index score of 19.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,086th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Iowa County?

    The primary driver of distress in Iowa County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 36.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Iowa County compare to neighboring counties?

    Iowa County (19.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Sauk County, WI (37.3); Grant County, WI (35.2); Dane County, WI (35.0).

  • 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). Iowa County's score of 19.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Iowa 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 Iowa County?

    Iowa County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 23,956 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.