Page County, Iowa

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.0 | 15,014 people · 18th most distressed in Iowa
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Page County, IA falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.0 — 2069th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Iowa, it ranks 18th of 99 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Page County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 61.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 61.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 62
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 63
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 71
Structural Poverty 56.9
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 52
Income vs. State Median 78
Child Poverty Rate 45
Disability Rate 56
Transfer Income Dependency 67
Economic Vitality 34.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 20
Rent-to-Income Ratio 21
Business Formation Rate 78
House Price Change (YoY) 63
Consumer Credit Distress 33.1
Debt in Collections 37
Medical Debt 23
Auto Loan Delinquency 6
Credit Card Delinquency 59
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 45
Legal Distress 21.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Page County
Page County, IA 42.0 Normal —
Montgomery County, IA 51.0 Elevated +9.0
Nodaway County, MO 40.4 Normal -1.6
Adams County, IA 33.3 Healthy -8.7
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy -8.8
Taylor County, IA 29.6 Healthy -12.4
Atchison County, MO 27.7 Healthy -14.2
Fremont County, IA 26.5 Healthy -15.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Page County
Northumberland County, VA 42.0 Normal -0.0
Giles County, VA 41.9 Normal -0.0
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal +0.1
Mille Lacs County, MN 42.1 Normal +0.1
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Page County has a County Distress Index score of 42.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,069th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Iowa out of 99 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Page County?

    The primary driver of distress in Page County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 61.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Page County compare to neighboring counties?

    Page County (42.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Montgomery County, IA (51.0); Nodaway County, MO (40.4); Adams County, IA (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 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). Page County's score of 42.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Page 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 Page County?

    Page County, Iowa has a population of approximately 15,014 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.