Winona County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.8 | 49,721 people · 41st most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Winona County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.8 — 2554th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Minnesota, it ranks 41st of 87 counties. It scores higher than all 7 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Winona County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 62.7 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 62.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Employment & Wages 58.9
Unemployment Rate 38
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 96
Income & Poverty 33.9
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 48
Child Poverty Rate 15
Community Vulnerability 14.7
Uninsured Rate 19
Disability Rate 11
Debt & Delinquency 13.5
Debt in Collections 6
Medical Debt 17
Student Loan Delinquency 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

How Winona County compares to its 7 neighboring counties and population peers.

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Winona County
Winona County, MN 36.8 Normal —
La Crosse County, WI 36.6 Normal -0.1
Trempealeau County, WI 36.5 Normal -0.3
Fillmore County, MN 35.7 Normal -1.1
Buffalo County, WI 32.3 Healthy -4.5
Houston County, MN 29.9 Healthy -6.9
Wabasha County, MN 28.0 Healthy -8.8
Olmsted County, MN 25.8 Healthy -11.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Winona County
San Juan County, WA 36.8 Normal +0.0
Marshall County, IN 36.8 Normal +0.0
Dodge County, NE 36.8 Normal +0.1
Lincoln County, WA 36.8 Normal +0.1
Pope County, MN 36.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Winona County

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 Winona 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Winona County has a County Distress Index score of 36.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,554th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 41st in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Winona County?

    The primary driver of distress in Winona County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 62.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Winona County compare to neighboring counties?

    Winona County (36.8) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: La Crosse County, WI (36.6); Trempealeau County, WI (36.5); Fillmore County, MN (35.7).

  • 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 Winona County?

    Winona County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 49,721 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.