Boundary County, Idaho

County Distress Index: Healthy · 25.7 | 13,557 people · 40th most distressed in Idaho
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Boundary County, ID ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 25.7 — 2938th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Idaho, it ranks 40th of 44 counties. It scores lower than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Boundary County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 56.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 56.7
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 58
Housing Cost Burden 35.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 33
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 34
Homeownership Rate 29
Economic Vitality 27.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 13
House Price Change (YoY) 76
Consumer Credit Distress 15.1
Debt in Collections 9
Medical Debt 17
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 84
Subprime Credit Population 7
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Boundary County
Boundary County, ID 25.7 Healthy —
Lincoln County, MT 42.8 Normal +17.1
Bonner County, ID 33.7 Healthy +7.9
Pend Oreille County, WA 30.7 Healthy +4.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Boundary County
McPherson County, KS 25.7 Healthy -0.0
Houston County, MN 25.9 Healthy +0.1
Putnam County, OH 25.6 Healthy -0.2
Sibley County, MN 26.0 Healthy +0.2
Wasatch County, UT 26.0 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Boundary County

Find an Attorney

Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service 208-334-4500

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Boundary County residents at no cost.

Idaho Legal Aid Services, Inc. 208-336-8980
Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program 208-334-4500

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Idaho →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Boundary County, Idaho?

    Boundary County has a County Distress Index score of 25.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,938th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 40th in Idaho out of 44 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Boundary County?

    The primary driver of distress in Boundary County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 56.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Boundary County compare to neighboring counties?

    Boundary County (25.7) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, MT (42.8); Bonner County, ID (33.7); Pend Oreille County, WA (30.7).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Boundary County's score of 25.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Boundary 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 Boundary County?

    Boundary County, Idaho has a population of approximately 13,557 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.