Kauai County, Hawaii

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.5 | 73,851 people · 4th most distressed in Hawaii
American Default Research

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Kauai County, HI falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.5 — 2340th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Hawaii, it ranks 4th of 5 counties. Its strongest area is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kauai County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 83.1 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 83.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 99
Rent-to-Income Ratio 97
Business Formation Rate 17
House Price Change (YoY) 90
Housing Cost Burden 67.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 76
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 79
Consumer Credit Distress 23.0
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 34
Uninsured Rate 9
Subprime Credit Population 24
Structural Poverty 20.9
Unemployment Rate 3
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 22
Legal Distress 15.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15

Scores are percentile-based: 50 = national median, higher = more distressed.

Neighbors and Peers

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kauai County
Franklin County, VA 37.5 Normal +0.0
Ward County, ND 37.5 Normal +0.0
Adams County, PA 37.5 Normal -0.1
Frederick County, VA 37.4 Normal -0.1
El Dorado County, CA 37.7 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kauai County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Kauai County.

LEGAL AID SOCIETY OF HAWAII - Lihue Branch
LIHUE
808-245-4728 Website
Foreclosure PreventionHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Hawaii →

Find an Attorney

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Hawaii State Bar Association Lawyer Referral and Information Service (LRIS) 808-537-9140

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Kauai County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Hawaii 808-536-4302 (Oahu); 808-243-3726 (Maui); 808-935-6088 (Big Island); 808-245-7580 (Kauai)
Volunteer Legal Services Hawaii 808-528-7046

Self-Help Resources

Hawaii State Judiciary Self-Help Center

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 Kauai County, Hawaii?

    Kauai County has a County Distress Index score of 37.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,340th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Hawaii out of 5 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kauai County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kauai County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 83.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Kauai County compare to neighboring counties?

    Neighbor comparison data is not available for Kauai County.

  • How is the County Distress Index calculated?

    The County Distress Index uses PCA-weighted percentile scoring across five statistically derived factors: Consumer Credit Distress (47.5%), Housing Cost Burden (22.3%), Structural Poverty (13.6%), Economic Vitality (9.2%), and Legal Distress (7.4%). 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.

  • How often is the CDI updated?

    Annually, aligned to Census American Community Survey and Urban Institute Debt in America release windows — the slowest-moving source inputs. Between annual refreshes, faster-cadence indicators (BLS unemployment, QCEW wages) may drive light mid-year updates if a specific component moves meaningfully. Current data compiled April 14, 2026; next full refresh early 2027.

  • What does the Normal zone mean?

    The CDI divides counties into five zones: Healthy (below 46), Normal (46–55), Elevated (55–71), Serious (71–86), and Crisis (86 and above). Kauai County's score of 37.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

  • What data sources power Kauai County's CDI score?

    Kauai County's CDI score draws on Urban Institute Debt in America (Equifax credit-bureau panel), U.S. Census Bureau (American Community Survey 5-year, Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates), Bureau of Labor Statistics (LAUS, QCEW), U.S. Courts Administrative Office (F-5A bankruptcy filings), and HUD Fair Market Rents. Every number on this page traces to one of these public sources.

  • What is the population of Kauai County?

    Kauai County, Hawaii has a population of approximately 73,851 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.