In LaGrange County, Indiana, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in six dollars of the typical household's income
In LaGrange County, 15.6% of the median household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom at HUD's fair market rent (HUD and Census Bureau, HUD rent fiscal year 2027; household income 2024). That is lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 82% of U.S. counties.
What drives LaGrange County's score
In LaGrange County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 50.5. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 12.0. Rent on a two-bedroom takes 15.6% of the median household's income (fiscal year 2027), lower than in 94% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index combines five things we measure for every county: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each gets a score from 0 to 100; the higher the score, the worse off the county is compared with others.
Even so, LaGrange County is worse off than most counties on people without health insurance (44.4%, 2020 to 2024) and adults 25 to 54 not working (30.4%, 2020 to 2024).
The five parts count equally; together they hold 14 measures. Under each part, a bar shows where LaGrange County ranks among all 3,144 U.S. counties on that measure, as a percentile: the share of counties it is higher than. A longer bar means more trouble.
- 50.5 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorAdults not working, 2020–24 Census survey; unemployment through Aug 2026
- Adults 25 to 54 not working30.4% · 2020 to 202490th percentile
- Unemployment rate, 12-month average2.9% · Sep 2025 to Aug 202610th percentile
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- 33.8 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, Q4 2025
- People with a car or retail loan behind6.8% · August 202570th percentile
- People with a credit card behind3.2% · August 202513th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score15.9% · Q4 202516th percentile
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- 33.0 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- Children below the poverty line12.3% · 202424th percentile
- People with a disability11.1% · 2020 to 20248th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$79,761 · 202420th percentile
- People below the poverty line8.4% · 202410th percentile
- People without health insurance44.4% · 2020 to 202499th percentile
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- 22.9 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector13.5% · August 202513th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people92.9 · 202532nd percentile
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- 12.0 of 100
Housing costs
HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027; renters, 2020–24 Census survey
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.6% · fiscal year 20275th percentile
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent11.9% · 2020 to 202418th percentile
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Sources: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and U.S. Census Bureau income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Aug 2026.
Where the money in LaGrange County comes from
The Bureau of Economic Analysis adds up all the income that reaches the people of a county and splits it three ways: pay from work, income from investments and rent, and benefit checks.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
LaGrange County
Indiana
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In LaGrange County in 2024, pay from work was 73 cents of every dollar of income. Income from investments and rentals was 13 cents. Benefit checks were 15 cents. Across the country, pay is 61 cents of the dollar and benefit checks are 18.
Benefit checks have grown from 6 cents of every dollar in 1969, but pay from work still brings in more.
In LaGrange County, benefit checks rose from 6 to 15 cents of every dollar
Benefit checks and pay from work as shares of all personal income, LaGrange County, Indiana: 14.8% and 72.5% in 2024. Yearly, 1969–2024.
Use this chart Free to use with credit
The quote: In 2024, benefit checks made up 14.8% of all personal income in LaGrange County, Indiana (U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, CAINC4).
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In LaGrange County, 14.6% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally.
How LaGrange County has changed
The number of people living in LaGrange County grew by about 100% between 1969 and 2024, from 20,572 to 41,122. The number of jobs located there grew by about 56% from 1990 to 2024.
Unemployment fell from 6.0% in 1990 to 3.3% in 2025.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| People living in the countyBEA | 1969 20,572 | 2024 41,122 |
| Jobs located in the countyBLS QCEW | 1990 9,469 | 2024 14,765 |
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.0% | 2025 3.3% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.0% | 2024 8.4% |
| Median household income (not adjusted for prices)Census SAIPE | 1989 $27,209 | 2024 $79,761 |
| Share of income from benefit checksBEA | 1969 6.1% | 2024 14.8% |
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices. We don't chart the distress score over time because it compares counties at one moment.
Dated events in LaGrange County's history
Largest decennial census count
The county's largest recorded population was the 2020 Census count of 40,446, which is also its most recent census. Census Bureau
1832
LaGrange County was established in 1832, carved out of neighboring Elkhart County. Wikipedia
1837
Chief Shipshewana and Potawatomi Tribe removed from county. Wikipedia
1844
Amish settlers arrived from Pennsylvania. Wikipedia
1961
Tornado: $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1965
Tornado: $2.5 million in property damage, five deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
1965
Tornado: five deaths. NOAA Storm Events Database
2014
Thunderstorm wind: one death. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
12 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered LaGrange County. FEMA
Storms are listed if they did $1 million or more in damage or killed someone.
LaGrange County beside its neighbors
All five counties that border LaGrange County, in Indiana and Michigan, score higher than it does. Of the group, LaGrange County gets the smallest share of its income from benefit checks; Branch County gets the largest, at 29.7%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elkhart County, IN | 58 | 10.8% | 19.4% |
| Branch County, MI | 56 | 13.2% | 29.7% |
| St. Joseph County, MI | 52 | 12.3% | 26.4% |
| Noble County, IN | 29 | 9.8% | 23.0% |
| Steuben County, IN | 27 | 9.4% | 24.1% |
| LaGrange County, IN | 17 | 8.4% | 14.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Aug 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is LaGrange County the poorest county in Indiana?
No, LaGrange County's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2024, 80th highest of 92 in Indiana (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Delaware County, at 20.5%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, LaGrange County ranks 82nd of 92 in the state.
LaGrange County in photographs
Places in LaGrange County from Wikimedia Commons, each captioned in its photographer's own words.
Lagrange-indiana-courthouse.jpg.
Photo: Not stated on the file page via Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
LaGrange County, Indiana: common questions
What is the poverty rate in LaGrange County, Indiana?
8.4% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates: about one in 12 people. Among children it was 12.3%.
Is LaGrange County the poorest county in Indiana?
No, LaGrange County's poverty rate was 8.4% in 2024, 80th highest of 92 in Indiana (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Delaware County, at 20.5%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, LaGrange County ranks 82nd of 92 in the state.
What is the population of LaGrange County, Indiana?
About 41,122 people in 2024, by the Bureau of Economic Analysis's count. The 2020 Census counted 40,446, the most of any census.
How is the County Distress Index calculated?
We rank every U.S. county on 14 federal measures of money trouble, grouped into five equally weighted parts, and average them. The published score is the share of the other 3,143 counties with a lower average. The methodology lists every measure and its source.
If you're behind on your mortgage in LaGrange County
A U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-approved housing counselor works at a nonprofit agency approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The counseling to avoid foreclosure is free, and a counselor can help you talk to your mortgage company and understand what it offers, according to the Consumer Financial Protection BureauSourceCFPB.
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Indiana Legal Services (ILS)
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Counseling to avoid foreclosure is free. Our help directory lists 1,313 approved agencies by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for LaGrange County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Aug 2026, built from HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; Urban Institute, Debt in America; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. Our methodology
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in LaGrange County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.