Gray County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Healthy · 15.3 | 5,743 people · 104th most distressed in Kansas
American Default Research

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

Gray County, KS ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 15.3 — 3131st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within Kansas, it ranks 104th of 105 counties. It scores lower 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. Gray County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 21.6 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 21.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 9
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 70
House Price Change (YoY) 40
Consumer Credit Distress 17.2
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 40
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 74
Subprime Credit Population 10
Housing Cost Burden 15.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 18
Structural Poverty 9.7
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 11
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 5
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gray County
Gray County, KS 15.3 Healthy —
Ford County, KS 49.2 Normal +33.9
Finney County, KS 47.1 Normal +31.8
Hodgeman County, KS 30.8 Healthy +15.5
Haskell County, KS 28.4 Healthy +13.0
Meade County, KS 27.3 Healthy +12.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gray County
Edmunds County, SD 15.4 Healthy +0.0
Hand County, SD 15.2 Healthy -0.2
Boone County, NE 15.5 Healthy +0.2
McLean County, ND 15.1 Healthy -0.2
Bottineau County, ND 15.1 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gray 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 Gray 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 Gray County, Kansas?

    Gray County has a County Distress Index score of 15.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,131st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 104th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gray County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gray County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 21.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Gray County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gray County (15.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Ford County, KS (49.2); Finney County, KS (47.1); Hodgeman County, KS (30.8).

  • 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 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). Gray County's score of 15.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Gray 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 Gray County?

    Gray County, Kansas has a population of approximately 5,743 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.