Wisconsin Financial Distress Profile
Composite distress data for 72 counties, updated quarterly from federal sources. Household debt, delinquency, foreclosure law, and county-level distress scores compared to national averages.
· Data from NY Fed, CFPB, BLS, US Courts, Q4 2025
Behind on your mortgage in Wisconsin? See your options under Wisconsin law →
Wisconsin ranks #38 nationally for household financial distress. County Distress Index details are listed separately for its 72 counties. The national State Distress Index average is 50.0.
How Does Wisconsin Compare to the National Average?
Wisconsin is above the national average on 0 of 5 key household distress metrics. Credit card delinquency stands at 8.0% (below the 12.4% national rate), auto loan delinquency at 3.6%, and total debt per capita at $49,210.
Since 2019, credit card delinquency in Wisconsin has risen 2.6pp and total household debt has grown 17.8%. Most metrics remain below the national baseline.
Key Statistics at a Glance
State Distress Index: Wisconsin
Domain Breakdown
The national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical). On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005. Wisconsin's State Distress Index of 33.7 (Second-least distressed fifth) is computed from 4 equal-weighted domains covering delinquency, default and legal signals, labor, and the safety-net buffer.
Wisconsin vs. National Average
Delinquency rates measure the share of loan accounts 30 or more days past due. Higher rates signal greater household financial stress. Debt and balance figures are per capita, adjusted for state population.
Download all states (CSV)Wisconsin vs. National: 5 Key Metrics (Q4 2025)
Source: NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax, Q4 2025.
Similar States by Distress Level
States ranked closest to Wisconsin (#38) on the State Distress Index. Peer comparison reveals whether distress patterns are regional or structural.
Change Since 2019
Pre-pandemic 2019 values provide a baseline for how distress has evolved. Credit card and auto loan delinquency have risen sharply in most states since pandemic-era forbearance protections expired.
| Metric | 2019 | 2025 | Change | Nat'l 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Credit Card Delinquency | 5.5% | 8.0% | +2.6pp | 12.4% |
| Auto Loan Delinquency | 2.7% | 3.6% | +0.9pp | 5.2% |
| Mortgage Delinquency | 0.62% | 0.47% | -0.2pp | 0.94% |
| Total Debt per Capita | $41,760 | $49,210 | +17.8% | $63,200 |
| CC Balance per Capita | $2,770 | $3,400 | +22.7% | $4,350 |
Wisconsin Foreclosure Law Summary
Understanding your state's foreclosure process is critical if you fall behind on mortgage payments. Wisconsin primarily uses judicial foreclosure.
Wisconsin is a judicial foreclosure state — all residential mortgage foreclosures must proceed through circuit court under Wis. Stat. § 846.01 et seq. There is no non-judicial 'foreclosure by advertisement' procedure available for standard residentia…
- Post-sale redemption: Wisconsin's redemption period is UNIQUE among U.S. states — it runs BEFORE the s…
State-Level Divergence
National averages mask wide variation across states. Wisconsin's credit card delinquency of 8.0% falls below the national 12.4%, but other metrics tell a more nuanced story. The state's Distress Index reads 33.7 (Second-least distressed fifth). The Household Debt by State roundup tracks all 51 jurisdictions.
Distress by County
The County Distress Index scores every county in Wisconsin on a 0-100 scale using five equal-weighted domains: delinquency, default and legal, debt burden, labor, and safety net and buffer. Wisconsin's 72 counties average 32.9 — below the national county mean of 50.0.
Distress Fifth Distribution
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Most Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Menominee County | 82.9 | Most distressed fifth | Delinquency |
| Milwaukee County | 72.2 | Most distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Adams County | 55.2 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| Rusk County | 52.8 | Middle fifth | Labor |
| Iron County | 51.7 | Middle fifth | Labor |
Menominee County ranks #80 most distressed nationally out of 3,144 counties.
Least Distressed Counties
| County | Score | Distress Fifth | Top Domain |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calumet County | 13.1 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Ozaukee County | 15.3 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Green County | 15.5 | Least distressed fifth | Default & Legal |
| Iowa County | 16.5 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
| Kewaunee County | 16.7 | Least distressed fifth | Debt Burden (housing basis) |
The gap between Wisconsin's most and least distressed counties is 69.8 points — Menominee County (82.9, Most distressed fifth) vs. Calumet County (13.1, Least distressed fifth). That spread reveals two very different economic realities within the same state.
Explore all 72 Wisconsin counties →CFPB Mortgage Complaints in Wisconsin
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has received 4,491 mortgage complaints from Wisconsin since 2012 — 76.2 per 100,000 residents, below the national rate of 129.3 per 100K. Wisconsin ranks #36 of 51 jurisdictions for complaint density.
| Year | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Complaints | 258 | 257 | 264 | 250 | 199 | 241 |
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Filed a mortgage complaint? Search the complaint database.
Bankruptcy Filings: Wisconsin
Bankruptcy filings reflect the downstream consequence of sustained financial distress — when households exhaust savings, fall behind on debt, and run out of alternatives. Wisconsin's filing rate exceeds the national average.
Source: U.S. Courts, Administrative Office. Table F-2: Cases Commenced by Chapter. Per-capita rates use 2024 Census population estimates.
Credit Distress: Wisconsin
The Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer tracks credit health metrics from Equifax data. 10.2% of Wisconsin residents have debt in collections — below the national rate of 13.9%. 11.6% have subprime credit scores (below 620), and 30.0% are credit-constrained.
Source: Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer. Data from NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel / Equifax. 2025 Q1.
Economic Context: Wisconsin
SNAP enrollment and unemployment rates provide upstream context for household debt distress. Higher food assistance enrollment signals that more families are struggling with basic expenses, while elevated unemployment directly reduces income available for debt service.
Sources: USDA Food and Nutrition Service, BLS Local Area Unemployment Statistics. Population: U.S. Census Bureau 2024 estimates.
Safety Net Strength: Wisconsin
The Safety Net Index measures how much support infrastructure is available to households in financial distress — combining healthcare coverage, food assistance, emergency housing funds, and legal protections. Wisconsin scores 53.5 out of 100 (Moderate), ranking #20 of 51 jurisdictions.
Component Breakdown
Sources: Kaiser Family Foundation (Medicaid, 2024), USDA FNS (SNAP, 2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, state foreclosure statutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the credit card delinquency rate in Wisconsin?
The credit card delinquency rate in Wisconsin is 8.0% as of Q4 2025, ranking #51 among all states and DC. The national average is 12.4%. This rate has risen from 5.5% in 2019.
How does Wisconsin's household debt compare to the national average?
Wisconsin residents carry $49,210 in total debt per capita, below the national average of $63,200. Debt per capita has grown 17.8% since 2019. Wisconsin ranks #40 nationally for total household debt per capita.
What is the auto loan delinquency rate in Wisconsin?
Auto loan delinquency in Wisconsin stands at 3.6% as of Q4 2025, below the national rate of 5.2%. This ranks #36 nationally. The rate has risen from 2.7% in 2019.
What type of foreclosure process does Wisconsin use?
Wisconsin primarily uses judicial foreclosure. This means foreclosures must go through the court system, giving homeowners more time and procedural protections. See our full Wisconsin foreclosure law guide for timelines, protections, and legal resources.
Is Wisconsin above or below the national average for financial distress?
Wisconsin scores 33.7 on the State Distress Index (Second-least distressed fifth), ranking #38 of 51 jurisdictions. That is 16.3 points below the national state average of 50.0. This composite score is built from 4 domains: delinquency, default and legal, labor, and safety net and buffer. Separately, the national American Distress Index reads 44.6 (Typical) for the country over time. On average, its inputs sit higher than in 45% of their own quarterly histories since 2005.
How many CFPB mortgage complaints have been filed in Wisconsin?
The CFPB has received 4,491 mortgage complaints from Wisconsin since 2012, a rate of 76.2 per 100,000 residents. This ranks #36 of 51 jurisdictions. The national average is 129.3 per 100K. Companies responded to 98.8% of Wisconsin complaints within the required timeframe.
What is the bankruptcy filing rate in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin had 10,171 bankruptcy filings in the 12-month period ending Dec 2025, a rate of 172.6 per 100,000 residents — above the national rate of 169.1 per 100K. This ranks #21 of 51 jurisdictions. Chapter 7 filings account for 64.5% and Chapter 13 for 34.9%. Filings changed +7.5% year-over-year.
What percentage of people in Wisconsin have debt in collections?
10.2% of individuals in Wisconsin have debt in collections, below the national rate of 13.9%. This ranks #37 of 51 jurisdictions. Additionally, 11.6% of Wisconsin residents have subprime credit scores (below 620), compared to 16.9% nationally. Data from the Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer (NY Fed / Equifax).
What is the SNAP enrollment rate in Wisconsin?
654,524 residents of Wisconsin receive SNAP benefits, an enrollment rate of 11.0% — below the national rate of 11.2%. This ranks #20 of 51 jurisdictions. SNAP participation has changed -6.6% year-over-year. The pre-pandemic rate was 10.1%.
How strong is Wisconsin's financial safety net?
Wisconsin scores 53.5 out of 100 on the Safety Net Index, ranking #20 of 51 jurisdictions (Moderate). The score combines Medicaid coverage (16.8% enrollment rate, non-expansion state), SNAP enrollment (11%), Homeowner Assistance Fund status (active), and foreclosure legal protections. The national average is 48.1.
Which Wisconsin counties have the highest financial distress?
Menominee County is the most distressed county in Wisconsin with a County Distress Index score of 82.9 (Most distressed fifth), ranking #80 nationally out of 3,144 counties. Milwaukee County (72.2), Adams County (55.2), Rusk County (52.8) round out the top distressed counties. Calumet County is the least distressed at 13.1 (Least distressed fifth). See all 72 counties at /counties/wisconsin/.
How long can foreclosure take in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin uses judicial foreclosure, meaning every foreclosure goes through the court system. In Wisconsin, the bank can foreclose in roughly 270–450 days from first missed payment to sale — though individual cases vary with cure periods, mediation, postponements, court backlogs, and bankruptcy filings. Homeowners have a right to cure: The borrower may cure the default (pay all past-due amounts plus costs) at any t…. The homestead exemption is $75,000. Full details at /help/foreclosure/wisconsin/.
Where does Wisconsin rank for financial distress?
Wisconsin scores 33.7 on the State Distress Index (Second-least distressed fifth), ranking #38 of 51 jurisdictions. Most metrics fall below national averages. The highest SDI domain is Safety Net & Buffer. County Distress Index details are listed separately by county. The safety net ranks #20 (Moderate) — non-Medicaid-expansion state.
Data Sources
NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel
State-level household debt and delinquency statistics from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, based on Equifax credit bureau data. Updated quarterly.
American Distress Index
Composite index tracking U.S. household financial distress across five equal-weighted domains. National score as of the latest available quarter.
Wisconsin Foreclosure Statutes
State foreclosure law data compiled from primary statutory sources and validated against legal databases. Last verified 2026-03-10.
CFPB Complaint Database
Mortgage complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2012–present. Density calculated using 2024 Census population estimates.
USDA SNAP State Activity
Monthly SNAP participation by state from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. Enrollment rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
U.S. Bankruptcy Courts
Annual bankruptcy filings by chapter and district from the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Per-capita rates computed against 2024 Census population estimates.
Philadelphia Fed Consumer Credit Explorer
Quarterly credit health metrics (collections, subprime share, delinquency, credit-constrained rates) from Equifax via the NY Fed Consumer Credit Panel.
Safety Net Index
Composite score from KFF Medicaid enrollment (2024), USDA SNAP participation (2025), U.S. Treasury HAF program status, and state foreclosure legal protections.