Itasca County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.8 | 45,365 people · 6th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Itasca County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.8 — 1683rd 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 Minnesota, it ranks 6th of 87 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Itasca County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 71.3 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 71.3
Unemployment Rate 97
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 78
Housing Cost Burden 61.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 97
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 96
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 11
Rent-to-Income Ratio 36
Income & Poverty 51.5
Poverty Rate 43
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 41
Community Vulnerability 42.6
Uninsured Rate 18
Disability Rate 68
Debt & Delinquency 17.1
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 7
Student Loan Delinquency 16
Auto Loan Delinquency 9
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Itasca County compares to its 5 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Itasca County
Itasca County, MN 48.8 Normal —
Beltrami County, MN 54.8 Elevated +5.9
Cass County, MN 49.1 Normal +0.3
Aitkin County, MN 47.7 Normal -1.2
St. Louis County, MN 46.1 Normal -2.7
Koochiching County, MN 41.6 Normal -7.3

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Itasca County
Barbour County, WV 48.9 Normal +0.0
Missaukee County, MI 48.8 Normal -0.0
Mitchell County, NC 48.9 Normal +0.1
Boyle County, KY 48.8 Normal -0.1
Franklin County, NY 49.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Itasca County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Itasca County.

KOOTASCA COMMUNITY ACTION, INC.
Grand Rapids
218-999-0800x0828 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Minnesota →

Find an Attorney

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

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 612-278-6333

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Itasca County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-334-5970
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-332-1441
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 1-888-575-2954
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc. (612) 334-5970
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (800) 933-1112
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation (800) 450-8585

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 Minnesota →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Itasca County, Minnesota?

    Itasca County has a County Distress Index score of 48.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,683rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Itasca County?

    The primary driver of distress in Itasca County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 71.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Itasca County compare to neighboring counties?

    Itasca County (48.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Beltrami County, MN (54.8); Cass County, MN (49.1); Aitkin County, MN (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 Itasca County?

    Itasca County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 45,365 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.