Midland County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.4 | 84,039 people · 74th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Midland County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.4 — 2567th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Michigan, it ranks 74th of 83 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Midland County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 54.3 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 54.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 88
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 28
Rent-to-Income Ratio 33
Employment & Wages 48.2
Unemployment Rate 74
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 63
Debt & Delinquency 31.1
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 39
Student Loan Delinquency 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 13
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Income & Poverty 28.2
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 31
Community Vulnerability 20.2
Uninsured Rate 6
Disability Rate 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Midland County
Midland County, MI 36.4 Normal —
Clare County, MI 69.7 Serious +33.3
Isabella County, MI 61.5 Elevated +25.1
Gladwin County, MI 59.6 Elevated +23.2
Saginaw County, MI 59.2 Elevated +22.8
Gratiot County, MI 50.4 Elevated +14.0
Bay County, MI 48.2 Normal +11.8

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Midland County
Wood County, WI 36.3 Normal -0.1
Rice County, MN 36.3 Normal -0.1
Merrimack County, NH 36.6 Normal +0.2
Chisago County, MN 36.2 Normal -0.2
Porter County, IN 36.6 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Midland County

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service 1-800-968-0738

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Midland County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid & Defender Association of Detroit 313-967-5555
Michigan Legal Help / Wolverine Legal Aid
Neighborhood Legal Services of Michigan 248-548-3838
Michigan Advocacy Program 616-774-0672
Legal Services of South Central Michigan 734-665-6181
Lakeshore Legal Aid (888) 783-8190
Legal Aid of Western Michigan (616) 774-0672
Legal Services of Eastern Michigan (800) 322-4512
Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Inc. (906) 786-2303

Self-Help Resources

Michigan Legal Help — Foreclosure Self-help guides and interactive tools for Michigan foreclosure process and defenses
MSHDA Homeowner Resources Assistance programs, counselor referrals, and MIHAF information

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 Michigan →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Midland County, Michigan?

    Midland County has a County Distress Index score of 36.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,567th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Midland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Midland County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 54.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Midland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Midland County (36.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Clare County, MI (69.7); Isabella County, MI (61.5); Gladwin County, MI (59.6).

  • 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 Midland County?

    Midland County, Michigan has a population of approximately 84,039 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.