Dickinson County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.1 | 18,445 people · 25th most distressed in Kansas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Dickinson County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.1 — 1832nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Kansas, it ranks 25th of 105 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dickinson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 62.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 62.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 62
Consumer Credit Distress 47.9
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 36
Housing Cost Burden 46.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 23
Structural Poverty 40.9
Unemployment Rate 34
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 46
Child Poverty Rate 22
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Economic Vitality 31.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 9
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickinson County
Dickinson County, KS 46.1 Normal —
Geary County, KS 66.4 Serious +20.3
Saline County, KS 49.0 Normal +2.8
Ottawa County, KS 39.8 Normal -6.3
Clay County, KS 38.9 Normal -7.3
Morris County, KS 35.5 Normal -10.6
Marion County, KS 31.1 Healthy -15.1
McPherson County, KS 25.7 Healthy -20.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dickinson County
Clinton County, IN 46.1 Normal -0.1
Waldo County, ME 46.1 Normal -0.1
Bandera County, TX 46.3 Normal +0.1
Missaukee County, MI 46.3 Normal +0.1
Cass County, IA 46.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dickinson 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 Dickinson County residents at no cost.

Kansas Legal Services 1-800-723-6953

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Kansas →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Dickinson County has a County Distress Index score of 46.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,832nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 25th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dickinson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dickinson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 62.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dickinson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dickinson County (46.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Geary County, KS (66.4); Saline County, KS (49.0); Ottawa County, KS (39.8).

  • 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). Dickinson County's score of 46.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Dickinson 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 Dickinson County?

    Dickinson County, Kansas has a population of approximately 18,445 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.