About one in eight people in Crawford County, Wisconsin, has a disability
In Crawford County, 12.4% of people reported a disability. That is lower than in 82% of U.S. counties.
Less distressed than 80% of U.S. counties.
What drives Crawford County's score
In Crawford County, jobs are the highest-scoring part, at 55.1. Late payments on loans are the lowest part, at 13.9. People with a credit card behind: 2.9%, August 2025, lower than in 90% of U.S. counties.
The County Distress Index looks at five parts of household money trouble in Crawford County: jobs, late payments on loans, income and the safety net, collections and bankruptcy, and housing costs. Each part is scored from 0 to 100, and a higher score means worse off than other counties.
Crawford County isn't among the worst-off quarter of U.S. counties on any measure.
A longer bar means more trouble. See how the county score works.
- 55.1 of 100
Jobs
Biggest factorUnemployment through Sep 2026; adults not working, 2020–24 Census survey
- Unemployment rate, average over the latest year4.4% · Oct 2025 to Sep 202664th percentile
- Adults 25 to 54 not working20.0% · 2020 to 202445th percentile
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- 43.1 of 100
Income and safety net
Poverty and income, 2024; disability and insurance, 2020–24 Census survey
- People below the poverty line12.9% · 202447th percentile
- Children below the poverty line16.7% · 202447th percentile
- People with a disability12.4% · 2020 to 202417th percentile
- People without health insurance7.0% · 2020 to 202442nd percentile
- Median household income (lower income, longer bar)$63,412 · 202459th percentile
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- 28.1 of 100
Housing costs
Renters, 2020–24 Census survey; HUD's fair market rents, fiscal year 2027
- Renters paying half their income or more in rent13.1% · 2020 to 202422nd percentile
- Rent on a two-bedroom as a share of the median income19.2% · fiscal year 202733rd percentile
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- 20.8 of 100
Collections and bankruptcy
Credit records, August 2025; bankruptcy filings, 2025
- People with unpaid debt sent to a collector15.1% · August 202519th percentile
- Bankruptcy filings per 100,000 people75.3 · 202522nd percentile
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- 13.9 of 100
Late payments
Credit records, August 2025; credit scores, second quarter of 2026
- People with a credit card behind2.9% · August 20259th percentile
- People with a car or retail loan behind3.1% · August 202515th percentile
- People with a subprime credit score31.2% · second quarter of 202616th percentile
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Sources: Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Fair Market Rents and Census income; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. County Distress Index by American Default Research, from data through Sep 2026.
Where the money in Crawford County comes from
Benefit checks are Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid paid on people's behalf, veterans' benefits, and food and income support, so a high share usually means an older population, low pay, or both. In Crawford County, 25.1% of residents are 65 or older (Census Bureau, 2024), against 17.2% nationally that year.
Cents of every dollar of income, 2024
Crawford County
Wisconsin
United States
- Pay from work
- Investments and rent
- Benefit checks
In Crawford County, benefit checks' share of income has more than doubled since 1969, reaching 29.6% in 2024, but pay from work still brings in nearly twice as much as benefit checks
In Crawford County, Wisconsin, benefit checks' share of income more than doubled from 1969 to 2024, reaching 29.6%; pay from work is plotted alongside. Every fifth year and 2024 are shown.
- Benefit checks
- Pay from work
The share of households in Crawford County getting SNAP food aid had its largest rise, from 11.2% in 2013 to 13.1% in 2014.
The share of households in Crawford County getting SNAP food aid was at its highest on the chart in 2015 and has since fallen by about a quarter
Low on the chart: 6.6% in 2009. Households getting SNAP, every year; each bar is a five-year survey estimate ending that year, so neighboring bars share most of their data, Crawford County, Wisconsin.
How Crawford County has changed
Crawford County's population rose most sharply after its 1974 low, from 15,458 in 1974 to 16,172 in 1979.
Crawford County's population was about the same in 2024 as in 1969
High on the chart: 17,163 in 1999. Residents, yearly estimate, every fifth year and 2024, Crawford County, Wisconsin.
The number of jobs located in Crawford County had its largest rise, from 6,299 in 1995 to 7,740 in 2000.
The number of jobs located in Crawford County was at its highest on the chart in 2005 and has since fallen by about a fifth
High on the chart: 8,078 in 2005. Yearly average of jobs covered by unemployment insurance, every fifth year and 2025, Crawford County, Wisconsin.
| Measure | Then | Now |
|---|---|---|
| Unemployment rateBLS LAUS | 1990 5.4% | 2025 4.1% |
| People below the poverty lineCensus SAIPE | 1989 16.0% | 2024 12.9% |
| Median household incomeCensus SAIPE | 1989 $20,245 | 2024 $63,412 |
The table uses 4.1% for 2025; the score uses 4.4% for the latest year (Oct 2025 to Sep 2026), both from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Figures are as each agency published them, not adjusted for prices.
Dated events in Crawford County's history
1814
Fort Shelby constructed to prevent British invasion during War of 1812, later captured by British forces. Wikipedia
1816
Fort Crawford constructed in 1816 after British capture of Fort Shelby. Wikipedia
1818
One of Wisconsin's original counties, established by Michigan Territorial legislature in 1818. Wikipedia
1940
The county's largest recorded population was the 1940 Census count of 18,328. The 2020 Census counted 16,113, 88% of the peak. Census Bureau
2007
A flash flood in August 2007 did $20 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2013
A flash flood in June 2013 did $4.3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2016
A flash flood in September 2016 did $5.3 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
2018
A flood in August 2018 did $8.5 million in property damage. NOAA Storm Events Database
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Since 1965
22 federal disaster and emergency declarations have covered Crawford County, 18 of them for flooding. FEMA
Crawford County beside its neighbors
Crawford County scores higher than all five counties that border it, in Wisconsin and Iowa. Of the group, Crawford County gets the largest share of its income from benefit checks (29.6%).
| County | Score | Poverty | Benefit checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford County, WI | 19 | 12.9% | 29.6% |
| Richland County, WI | 17 | 13.0% | 27.0% |
| Vernon County, WI | 13 | 11.6% | 26.1% |
| Allamakee County, IA | 13 | 10.5% | 24.2% |
| Grant County, WI | 9 | 11.9% | 24.0% |
| Clayton County, IA | 7 | 9.7% | 23.8% |
Distress score: American Default Research, County Distress Index, data through Sep 2026; each county scored against all 3,144. Poverty rate: Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates, 2024. Benefit checks: Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024. Neighbors share a border, from Census county maps.
Is Crawford County the poorest county in Wisconsin?
No, Crawford County's poverty rate was 12.9% in 2024, 13th highest of 72 in Wisconsin (U.S. Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates). By that measure the poorest county in the state is Menominee County, at 24.4%. On our distress index, which counts more than poverty, Crawford County ranks 21st of 72 in the state.
If you're behind on your mortgage in Crawford County
Housing counselors approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development work at nonprofit agencies. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau describes free foreclosure-avoidance counseling, including help with mortgage-company conversations and available options Source CFPB.
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Legal Action of Wisconsin
Legal aid
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Disability Rights Wisconsin
Legal aid
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HUD-approved housing counselors
Our help directory lists 1,010 agencies approved for foreclosure counseling, by state.
The score, its 14 measures and their sources, in one file. Free to use with credit to American Default Research.
Download the CSV for Crawford County · Every U.S. county (CSV)
Sources and method
- American Default Research · County Distress Index Data through Sep 2026, built from Urban Institute, Debt in America; Equifax via the St. Louis Fed; U.S. Courts, Table F-5A; Census Bureau, American Community Survey; HUD Fair Market Rents and Census income; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics; Census Bureau, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates. The County Distress Index is American Default Research's own calculation; the Urban Institute does not produce or endorse it. Our methodology
- Urban Institute · Debt in America Breno Braga, Signe-Mary McKernan, Samantha Atherton, and Kassandra Martinchek, "Debt in America," last updated November 20, 2025, https://datacatalog.urban.org/dataset/debt-america-2025. Licensed under ODC-By 1.0.
- Rent on a two-bedroom and household income The rent share compares HUD fair market rent for fiscal year 2027 with Census Bureau median household income for 2024. The page calls this the typical household's income.
- U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Economic Accounts (CAINC4) · income shares Where the money in Crawford County comes from, 2024.
- History The agencies named in each row and the linked records above.