Washburn County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.9 | 16,930 people · 17th most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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Washburn County, WI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.9 — 2082nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Employment & Wages, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Wisconsin, it ranks 17th of 72 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five domains of financial distress. Washburn County's primary driver is Employment & Wages at 59.9 — above the national median.

Employment & Wages Primary driver 59.9
Unemployment Rate 61
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Business Formation Rate 57
Income & Poverty 46.1
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 73
Child Poverty Rate 38
Housing Cost Burden 39.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 65
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 21
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 74
Homeownership Rate 15
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Community Vulnerability 38.1
Uninsured Rate 26
Disability Rate 50
Debt & Delinquency 36.0
Debt in Collections 13
Medical Debt 53
Student Loan Delinquency 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Washburn County
Washburn County, WI 43.9 Normal —
Rusk County, WI 52.0 Elevated +8.1
Burnett County, WI 49.2 Normal +5.3
Sawyer County, WI 47.3 Normal +3.3
Bayfield County, WI 42.2 Normal -1.7
Douglas County, WI 42.0 Normal -2.0
Barron County, WI 38.3 Normal -5.6

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Washburn County
Archuleta County, CO 44.0 Normal +0.0
Kodiak Island Borough, AK 44.0 Normal +0.0
Nodaway County, MO 43.9 Normal -0.0
Madison County, OH 43.9 Normal -0.0
Talbot County, MD 44.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Washburn County

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 Washburn 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 Washburn County, Wisconsin?

    Washburn County has a County Distress Index score of 43.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,082nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Washburn County?

    The primary driver of distress in Washburn County is Employment & Wages, where the county scores 59.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Washburn County compare to neighboring counties?

    Washburn County (43.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Rusk County, WI (52.0); Burnett County, WI (49.2); Sawyer County, WI (47.3).

  • 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 Washburn County?

    Washburn County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 16,930 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.