Chase County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.3 | 2,579 people · 59th most distressed in Kansas
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Chase County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.3 — 2462nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Kansas, it ranks 59th of 105 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Chase County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 61.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 61.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Economic Vitality 40.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 42
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 86
House Price Change (YoY) 40
Consumer Credit Distress 37.5
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 39
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 5
Structural Poverty 37.1
Unemployment Rate 69
Poverty Rate 32
Income vs. State Median 51
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 21
Housing Cost Burden 18.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 39
Homeownership Rate 63

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Chase County
Chase County, KS 35.3 Normal —
Lyon County, KS 54.8 Elevated +19.5
Greenwood County, KS 48.8 Normal +13.5
Butler County, KS 42.3 Normal +7.0
Morris County, KS 35.5 Normal +0.3
Marion County, KS 31.1 Healthy -4.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Chase County
Kearny County, KS 35.2 Normal -0.1
Major County, OK 35.4 Normal +0.1
Mathews County, VA 35.2 Normal -0.1
Essex County, VT 35.4 Normal +0.1
Norman County, MN 35.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Chase County

Find an Attorney

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

Kansas Bar Association Lawyer Referral 785-234-5696

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Chase County residents at no cost.

Kansas Legal Services 1-800-723-6953

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Chase County, Kansas?

    Chase County has a County Distress Index score of 35.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,462nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 59th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Chase County?

    The primary driver of distress in Chase County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 61.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Chase County compare to neighboring counties?

    Chase County (35.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lyon County, KS (54.8); Greenwood County, KS (48.8); Butler County, KS (42.3).

  • 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). Chase County's score of 35.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Chase 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 Chase County?

    Chase County, Kansas has a population of approximately 2,579 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.