Gooding County, Idaho

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.7 | 16,061 people · 17th most distressed in Idaho
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Gooding County, ID falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.7 — 2273rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Idaho, it ranks 17th of 44 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gooding County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 49.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 49.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Economic Vitality 44.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 52
House Price Change (YoY) 47
Housing Cost Burden 42.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 53
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 33
Homeownership Rate 65
Structural Poverty 40.6
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 44
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 46
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 15
Consumer Credit Distress 33.6
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 27
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 38

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gooding County
Gooding County, ID 38.7 Normal —
Twin Falls County, ID 50.2 Elevated +11.5
Elmore County, ID 43.4 Normal +4.6
Jerome County, ID 39.6 Normal +0.9
Lincoln County, ID 38.4 Normal -0.3
Camas County, ID 27.2 Healthy -11.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gooding County
Perry County, IL 38.7 Normal 0.0
Poweshiek County, IA 38.7 Normal 0.0
Fairfax city, VA 38.7 Normal +0.0
Steele County, MN 38.5 Normal -0.2
Sawyer County, WI 38.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gooding 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 Gooding 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 Gooding County, Idaho?

    Gooding County has a County Distress Index score of 38.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,273rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Idaho out of 44 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gooding County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gooding County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 49.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gooding County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gooding County (38.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Twin Falls County, ID (50.2); Elmore County, ID (43.4); Jerome County, ID (39.6).

  • 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). Gooding County's score of 38.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gooding 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 Gooding County?

    Gooding County, Idaho has a population of approximately 16,061 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.