Dubuque County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 31.5 | 98,887 people · 59th most distressed in Iowa
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Dubuque County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 31.5 — 2833rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Iowa, it ranks 59th of 99 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Dubuque County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 60.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 60.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 86
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 56
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Employment & Wages 42.5
Unemployment Rate 38
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 69
Debt & Delinquency 26.1
Debt in Collections 20
Medical Debt 19
Student Loan Delinquency 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 26
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Income & Poverty 21.4
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 36
Child Poverty Rate 11
Community Vulnerability 6.6
Uninsured Rate 4
Disability Rate 9

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed. The median line is shown on each bar.

Neighbors and Peers

How Dubuque County compares to its 6 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Dubuque County
Dubuque County, IA 31.5 Healthy —
Clayton County, IA 39.5 Normal +8.0
Grant County, WI 39.2 Normal +7.7
Jo Daviess County, IL 32.8 Healthy +1.3
Jackson County, IA 32.7 Healthy +1.2
Jones County, IA 28.9 Healthy -2.6
Delaware County, IA 28.0 Healthy -3.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Dubuque County
Jefferson County, WI 31.4 Healthy -0.1
Chippewa County, WI 31.3 Healthy -0.2
Linn County, IA 31.7 Healthy +0.2
Queen Anne's County, MD 31.7 Healthy +0.2
Sherburne County, MN 31.1 Healthy -0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dubuque County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Dubuque County.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF DUBUQUE
Dubuque
563-588-0558
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase
EASTERN IOWA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY
DUBUQUE
563-556-4166 Website
Financial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Iowa →

Find an Attorney

Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 515-243-3179

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Dubuque County residents at no cost.

Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275

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 Dubuque County, Iowa?

    Dubuque County has a County Distress Index score of 31.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,833rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dubuque County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dubuque County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 60.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Dubuque County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dubuque County (31.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Clayton County, IA (39.5); Grant County, WI (39.2); Jo Daviess County, IL (32.8).

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses percentile-rank averaging across five domains: Debt & Delinquency, Income & Poverty, Housing Cost Burden, Employment & Wages, and Community Vulnerability. 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.

  • What is the population of Dubuque County?

    Dubuque County, Iowa has a population of approximately 98,887 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.