Harper County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.0 | 5,435 people · 44th most distressed in Kansas
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Harper County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.0 — 2261st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Kansas, it ranks 44th of 105 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Harper County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 56.5 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 56.5
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 55
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 59
Disability Rate 77
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Consumer Credit Distress 43.7
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 76
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 59
Subprime Credit Population 31
Housing Cost Burden 28.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 16
Homeownership Rate 54
Economic Vitality 26.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 24
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Legal Distress 21.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Harper County
Harper County, KS 39.0 Normal —
Alfalfa County, OK 47.6 Normal +8.7
Sumner County, KS 45.2 Normal +6.2
Grant County, OK 44.4 Normal +5.4
Kingman County, KS 32.4 Healthy -6.5
Barber County, KS 30.8 Healthy -8.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Harper County
Sherman County, TX 39.0 Normal +0.0
Maries County, MO 38.9 Normal -0.0
Keith County, NE 38.9 Normal -0.1
Clay County, KS 38.9 Normal -0.1
Benson County, ND 39.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Harper 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 Harper 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 Harper County, Kansas?

    Harper County has a County Distress Index score of 39.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,261st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 44th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Harper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Harper County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 56.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Harper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Harper County (39.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Alfalfa County, OK (47.6); Sumner County, KS (45.2); Grant County, OK (44.4).

  • 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). Harper County's score of 39.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Harper 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 Harper County?

    Harper County, Kansas has a population of approximately 5,435 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.