Geary County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Serious · 66.4 | 35,047 people · 2nd most distressed in Kansas
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Geary County, KS shows significant household financial distress with a score of 66.4 — 581st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Kansas, it ranks 2nd of 105 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Geary County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 77.5 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 77.5
Debt in Collections 76
Medical Debt 66
Auto Loan Delinquency 80
Credit Card Delinquency 89
Uninsured Rate 48
Subprime Credit Population 86
Housing Cost Burden 64.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 96
Homeownership Rate 99
Legal Distress 58.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Economic Vitality 57.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 59
Business Formation Rate 67
House Price Change (YoY) 85
Structural Poverty 41.9
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 72
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Geary County
Geary County, KS 66.4 Serious —
Riley County, KS 50.0 Elevated -16.4
Dickinson County, KS 46.1 Normal -20.3
Clay County, KS 38.9 Normal -27.5
Morris County, KS 35.5 Normal -30.9
Wabaunsee County, KS 26.9 Healthy -39.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Geary County
Crenshaw County, AL 66.3 Serious -0.1
Alcorn County, MS 66.3 Serious -0.1
Halifax County, VA 66.5 Serious +0.1
Newberry County, SC 66.3 Serious -0.1
Jasper County, MS 66.5 Serious +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Geary County

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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

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Legal aid organizations serving Geary 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 Geary County, Kansas?

    Geary County has a County Distress Index score of 66.4 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 581st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Geary County?

    The primary driver of distress in Geary County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 77.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Geary County compare to neighboring counties?

    Geary County (66.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Riley County, KS (50.0); Dickinson County, KS (46.1); Clay County, KS (38.9).

  • 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 Serious 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). Geary County's score of 66.4 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

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

    Geary 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 Geary County?

    Geary County, Kansas has a population of approximately 35,047 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.