Hamilton County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Healthy · 23.6 | 2,437 people · 96th most distressed in Kansas
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Hamilton County, KS ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 23.6 — 2999th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Kansas, it ranks 96th of 105 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hamilton County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 45.9 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 45.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 40
Consumer Credit Distress 28.6
Debt in Collections 10
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 39
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 95
Subprime Credit Population 21
Structural Poverty 19.7
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 21
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Housing Cost Burden 11.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 14
Legal Distress 6.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Hamilton County, KS 23.6 Healthy —
Prowers County, CO 53.7 Elevated +30.1
Grant County, KS 36.5 Normal +12.9
Kearny County, KS 35.2 Normal +11.6
Wichita County, KS 29.8 Healthy +6.2
Stanton County, KS 28.0 Healthy +4.4
Greeley County, KS 25.4 Healthy +1.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hamilton County
Calhoun County, IA 23.6 Healthy -0.0
Day County, SD 23.7 Healthy +0.1
Palo Alto County, IA 23.4 Healthy -0.2
Sheridan County, KS 23.4 Healthy -0.2
Perkins County, SD 23.4 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hamilton County has a County Distress Index score of 23.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,999th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 96th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hamilton County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hamilton County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 45.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hamilton County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hamilton County (23.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Prowers County, CO (53.7); Grant County, KS (36.5); Kearny County, KS (35.2).

  • 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). Hamilton County's score of 23.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Hamilton 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 Hamilton County?

    Hamilton County, Kansas has a population of approximately 2,437 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.