Monroe County, Michigan

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.2 | 155,045 people · 64th most distressed in Michigan
American Default Research

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Monroe County, MI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.2 — 2059th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Employment & Wages, where unemployment is elevated, wages are low relative to housing costs, and business formation lags. Within Michigan, it ranks 64th of 83 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Monroe County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 69.4 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 69.4
Unemployment Rate 74
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 73
Housing Cost Burden 59.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 90
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 74
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 55
Debt & Delinquency 47.0
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 49
Student Loan Delinquency 34
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Income & Poverty 23.6
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 16
Child Poverty Rate 24
Community Vulnerability 21.8
Uninsured Rate 5
Disability Rate 39

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Monroe County compares to its 4 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Monroe County
Monroe County, MI 44.2 Normal —
Wayne County, MI 65.1 Serious +20.9
Lucas County, OH 58.5 Elevated +14.3
Lenawee County, MI 47.7 Normal +3.5
Washtenaw County, MI 39.3 Normal -4.9

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Monroe County
Sandoval County, NM 44.2 Normal -0.0
Beaver County, PA 44.2 Normal -0.0
Whiteside County, IL 44.3 Normal +0.1
Racine County, WI 44.3 Normal +0.1
Santa Rosa County, FL 44.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Monroe County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Monroe County.

MONROE COUNTY OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM
Monroe
734-241-2775 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHomeless/DisplacementPre-Purchase

See all counselors in Michigan →

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 Monroe 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 Monroe County, Michigan?

    Monroe County has a County Distress Index score of 44.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,059th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Michigan out of 83 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Monroe County?

    The primary driver of distress in Monroe County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 69.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Monroe County compare to neighboring counties?

    Monroe County (44.2) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Wayne County, MI (65.1); Lucas County, OH (58.5); Lenawee County, MI (47.7).

  • 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 Monroe County?

    Monroe County, Michigan has a population of approximately 155,045 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.