Rock County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.7 | 164,278 people · 18th most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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Rock County, WI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.7 — 2106th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 18th of 72 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Rock 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%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 83
Homeownership Rate 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Debt & Delinquency 51.6
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 76
Student Loan Delinquency 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Employment & Wages 47.2
Unemployment Rate 30
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 59
Income & Poverty 34.5
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 35
Community Vulnerability 22.6
Uninsured Rate 20
Disability Rate 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Rock County
Rock County, WI 43.7 Normal —
Winnebago County, IL 56.7 Elevated +13.0
Boone County, IL 41.6 Normal -2.1
Walworth County, WI 35.1 Normal -8.7
Dane County, WI 31.7 Healthy -12.0
Jefferson County, WI 31.4 Healthy -12.3
Green County, WI 26.2 Healthy -17.5

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Rock County
Rensselaer County, NY 43.8 Normal +0.0
Montgomery County, VA 43.8 Normal +0.0
Napa County, CA 43.7 Normal -0.0
Johnson County, MO 43.8 Normal +0.1
Newton County, MO 43.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Rock County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Rock County.

NEIGHBORWORKS BLACKHAWK REGION - NHS OF BELOIT, INC.
Beloit
608-362-9051
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

See all counselors in Wisconsin →

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar of Wisconsin — Lawyer Referral and Information Service 608-257-4666 (Madison); 414-274-6768 (Milwaukee)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Rock County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Milwaukee 414-278-7722
Legal Action of Wisconsin 608-256-3191 (Madison); 414-278-7722 (Milwaukee)
Wisconsin Judicare 715-842-1681 (Wausau); 1-800-472-1638 (statewide)
Disability Rights Wisconsin 608-267-0214
Judicare Legal Aid (715) 842-1681

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 Rock County, Wisconsin?

    Rock County has a County Distress Index score of 43.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,106th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Rock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Rock 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 Rock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Rock County (43.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Winnebago County, IL (56.7); Boone County, IL (41.6); Walworth County, WI (35.1).

  • 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 Rock County?

    Rock County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 164,278 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.