Fremont County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 26.5 | 6,458 people · 72nd most distressed in Iowa
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Fremont County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 26.5 — 2913th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Iowa, it ranks 72nd of 99 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Fremont County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 55.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 55.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Structural Poverty 39.4
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Economic Vitality 29.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 84
Consumer Credit Distress 24.8
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 51
Uninsured Rate 7
Subprime Credit Population 10
Housing Cost Burden 11.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 28
Homeownership Rate 16

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Fremont County
Fremont County, IA 26.5 Healthy —
Montgomery County, IA 51.0 Elevated +24.5
Page County, IA 42.0 Normal +15.5
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy +6.7
Atchison County, MO 27.7 Healthy +1.3
Cass County, NE 27.3 Healthy +0.8
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Fremont County
Ellsworth County, KS 26.3 Healthy -0.2
Gosper County, NE 26.3 Healthy -0.2
Custer County, CO 26.7 Healthy +0.2
McCone County, MT 26.7 Healthy +0.2
Republic County, KS 26.7 Healthy +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Fremont County

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

Iowa State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 515-243-3179

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Iowa Legal Aid 1-800-532-1275

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Fremont County, Iowa?

    Fremont County has a County Distress Index score of 26.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,913th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Fremont County?

    The primary driver of distress in Fremont County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 55.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Fremont County compare to neighboring counties?

    Fremont County (26.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, IA (51.0); Page County, IA (42.0); Mills County, IA (33.2).

  • 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). Fremont County's score of 26.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Fremont 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 Fremont County?

    Fremont County, Iowa has a population of approximately 6,458 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.