Waupaca County, Wisconsin

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.0 | 51,388 people · 24th most distressed in Wisconsin
American Default Research

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Waupaca County, WI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.0 — 2211th 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 24th 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. Waupaca County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 47.6 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 47.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 52
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 55
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Employment & Wages 44.7
Unemployment Rate 19
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 72
Income & Poverty 43.9
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 37
Debt & Delinquency 40.7
Debt in Collections 23
Medical Debt 61
Student Loan Delinquency 47
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Community Vulnerability 33.0
Uninsured Rate 28
Disability Rate 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

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

Neighboring Counties

County Score Zone vs. Waupaca County
Waupaca County, WI 42.0 Normal —
Waushara County, WI 44.0 Normal +2.0
Shawano County, WI 38.4 Normal -3.6
Winnebago County, WI 33.2 Healthy -8.8
Marathon County, WI 32.4 Healthy -9.6
Portage County, WI 29.7 Healthy -12.3
Outagamie County, WI 22.0 Healthy -20.0

Population Peers

County Score Zone vs. Waupaca County
Newport County, RI 42.0 Normal +0.0
Clermont County, OH 41.9 Normal -0.1
Lake County, OH 42.1 Normal +0.1
Autauga County, AL 42.1 Normal +0.1
Effingham County, GA 41.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Waupaca 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 Waupaca 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 Waupaca County, Wisconsin?

    Waupaca County has a County Distress Index score of 42.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,211th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 24th in Wisconsin out of 72 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Waupaca County?

    The primary driver of distress in Waupaca County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 47.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Waupaca County compare to neighboring counties?

    Waupaca County (42.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Waushara County, WI (44.0); Shawano County, WI (38.4); Winnebago County, WI (33.2).

  • 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 Waupaca County?

    Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a population of approximately 51,388 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.