Clark County, Idaho

County Distress Index: Healthy · 34.1 | 801 people · 26th most distressed in Idaho
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Clark County, ID ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 34.1 — 2517th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Idaho, it ranks 26th of 44 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clark County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 56.4 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 56.4
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 88
Child Poverty Rate 77
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Legal Distress 49.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Housing Cost Burden 34.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 35
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 87
Economic Vitality 28.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 49
Business Formation Rate 38
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Consumer Credit Distress 26.0
Debt in Collections 23
Medical Debt 35
Auto Loan Delinquency 20
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 93
Subprime Credit Population 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Clark County, ID 34.1 Healthy —
Lemhi County, ID 36.6 Normal +2.6
Beaverhead County, MT 33.6 Healthy -0.4
Fremont County, ID 33.3 Healthy -0.8
Jefferson County, ID 26.1 Healthy -8.0
Butte County, ID 24.8 Healthy -9.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Scott County, IL 34.0 Healthy -0.0
Ringgold County, IA 34.0 Healthy -0.0
Skagway Municipality, AK 34.0 Healthy -0.1
Mercer County, MO 34.0 Healthy -0.1
Wallowa County, OR 34.2 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clark 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 Clark County residents at no cost.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 34.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,517th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Idaho out of 44 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clark County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 56.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clark County (34.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lemhi County, ID (36.6); Beaverhead County, MT (33.6); Fremont County, ID (33.3).

  • 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). Clark County's score of 34.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Clark 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 Clark County?

    Clark County, Idaho has a population of approximately 801 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.