In Pike County, Indiana, rent on a two-bedroom takes about one in seven dollars of the typical household's income
In Pike County, 15.3% of the typical household's income would go to rent on a two-bedroom. That is lower than in 95% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 75% of U.S. counties.
What drives Pike County's score
In Pike County, collections and bankruptcy is the highest-scoring part, at 63.0. Housing costs are the lowest part, at 20.3.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Pike County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Even so, Pike County is worse off than most counties on bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people (239.6, 2025).
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 63.0 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Biggest factorCredit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector21.1% · August 202542nd percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people239.6 · 202583rd percentile
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- 44.5 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind6.5% · August 202565th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.6% · August 202526th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score37.8% · second quarter of 202640th percentile
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- 23.9 of 100
Jobs
Unemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year3.3% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202623rd percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working16.4% · 2020 to 202423rd percentile
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- 22.8 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line9.0% · 202415th percentile
- Children below the poverty line12.2% · 202423rd percentile
- People with a disability15.7% · 2020 to 202447th percentile
- People without health insurance3.8% · 2020 to 20246th percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$79,458 · 202421st percentile
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- 20.3 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent15.7% · 2020 to 202435th percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income15.3% · fiscal year 20275th or lower percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; 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 Sep 2026.
Where the money in Pike County comes from
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 Pike County, 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Pike County
Indiana
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Pike County, benefit checks' share of income has tripled since 1969, reaching 30.4% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in twice as much as benefit checks
In Pike County, Indiana, benefit checks' share of income tripled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 30.4%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Pike County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 7.8% in 2022 to 9.4% in 2023.
The share of households in Pike County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2012 and has since fallen to 9.5%
Low on the chart: 7.1% in 2020. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Pike County, Indiana.
How Pike County has changed
Pike County's population had its largest rise, from 12,342 in 1974 to 13,339 in 1979.
Pike County's population was at its highest on the chart in 1984 and is down 9% since
High on the chart: 13,359 in 1984. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Pike County, Indiana.
The jobs count covers work located in the county; the population count covers residents.
The number of jobs located in Pike County fell 13% from 1990 to 2025, reaching its lowest on the chart, with most of the change between 1990 and 1995
Biggest drop: 1990 to 1995, reaching 2,803. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Pike County, Indiana.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 6.5% | 2025 3.7% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 10.7% | 2024 9.0% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $24,107 | 2024 $79,458 |
The table uses 3.7% for 2025; the score uses 3.3% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Pike County's history
1816
Authorized December 21, 1816, taking areas from Gibson, Knox, and Perry counties. Wikipedia
1900
The county's largest recorded population was the 1900 Census count of 20,486. The 2020 Census counted 12,250, 60% of the peak. Census Bureau
1925
Tri-State Tornado in 1925 came close to Petersburg but dissipated before reaching the city. Wikipedia
1990
F4 tornado on June 2, 1990 killed multiple people and caused major damage to Petersburg. Wikipedia
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $25 million in property damage and killed six people. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
1990
A tornado in June 1990 did $2.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flood in December 2013 killed one person. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
Hoosier Energy's Frank E. Ratts Generating Station demolished in late 2016 and early 2017. Wikipedia
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Since 1977
21 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Pike County, 13 of them for flooding. FEMA
Pike County beside its neighbors
Of the five counties that border Pike County, two score higher. For the share of income from benefit checks, Pike County ranks 2nd of the six; Knox County is highest, at 31.1%.
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knox County, IN | 46 | 11.9% | 31.1% |
| Daviess County, IN | 27 | 12.4% | 19.5% |
| Pike County, IN | 24 | 9.0% | 30.4% |
| Gibson County, IN | 21 | 10.3% | 23.8% |
| Warrick County, IN | 14 | 6.6% | 18.6% |
| Dubois County, IN | 4 | 7.7% | 18.6% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 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 Pike County the poorest county in Indiana?
No, Pike County's poverty rate was 9.0% in 2024, 71st 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, Pike County ranks 69th of 92 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Pike County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Indiana Legal Services (ILS)
Legal aid
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Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Pike County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.