O'Brien County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.4 | 14,012 people · 67th most distressed in Iowa
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O'Brien County, IA ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.4 — 2871st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Iowa, it ranks 67th of 99 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. O'Brien County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 41.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 41.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 61
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 43
Homeownership Rate 34
Legal Distress 32.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33
Economic Vitality 26.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 26
Structural Poverty 25.3
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 12
Disability Rate 38
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Consumer Credit Distress 20.7
Debt in Collections 19
Medical Debt 19
Auto Loan Delinquency 48
Credit Card Delinquency 21
Uninsured Rate 5
Subprime Credit Population 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. O'Brien County
O'Brien County, IA 27.4 Healthy —
Cherokee County, IA 32.5 Healthy +5.1
Buena Vista County, IA 32.2 Healthy +4.8
Clay County, IA 28.2 Healthy +0.8
Osceola County, IA 27.8 Healthy +0.4
Dickinson County, IA 23.9 Healthy -3.4
Plymouth County, IA 20.2 Healthy -7.2
Sioux County, IA 18.1 Healthy -9.3
Lyon County, IA 11.4 Healthy -16.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. O'Brien County
Cass County, NE 27.3 Healthy -0.1
Davison County, SD 27.3 Healthy -0.1
Washington County, IA 27.5 Healthy +0.1
Jo Daviess County, IL 27.3 Healthy -0.1
Jefferson County, WA 27.2 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for O'Brien County as a CSV file.

Find Help in O'Brien County

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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 O'Brien County, Iowa?

    O'Brien County has a County Distress Index score of 27.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,871st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 67th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in O'Brien County?

    The primary driver of distress in O'Brien County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 41.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does O'Brien County compare to neighboring counties?

    O'Brien County (27.4) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Cherokee County, IA (32.5); Buena Vista County, IA (32.2); Clay County, IA (28.2).

  • 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). O'Brien County's score of 27.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power O'Brien County's CDI score?

    O'Brien 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 O'Brien County?

    O'Brien County, Iowa has a population of approximately 14,012 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.