Harvey County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.3 | 33,504 people · 58th most distressed in Kansas
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Harvey County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.3 — 2459th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Kansas, it ranks 58th 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. Harvey County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 56.3 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 56.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Economic Vitality 55.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 75
House Price Change (YoY) 18
Housing Cost Burden 44.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 39
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 55
Homeownership Rate 72
Structural Poverty 30.7
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 8
Income vs. State Median 33
Child Poverty Rate 13
Disability Rate 30
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Consumer Credit Distress 25.1
Debt in Collections 30
Medical Debt 22
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Harvey County
Harvey County, KS 35.3 Normal —
Sedgwick County, KS 52.2 Elevated +16.9
Reno County, KS 51.3 Elevated +16.0
Butler County, KS 42.3 Normal +6.9
Marion County, KS 31.1 Healthy -4.3
McPherson County, KS 25.7 Healthy -9.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Harvey County
Richland County, ND 35.3 Normal +0.0
Marshall County, IA 35.3 Normal -0.0
Lewis County, NY 35.4 Normal +0.1
Green Lake County, WI 35.2 Normal -0.1
Andrew County, MO 35.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Harvey 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 Harvey 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 Harvey County, Kansas?

    Harvey County has a County Distress Index score of 35.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,459th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 58th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Harvey County?

    The primary driver of distress in Harvey County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 56.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Harvey County compare to neighboring counties?

    Harvey County (35.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Sedgwick County, KS (52.2); Reno County, KS (51.3); Butler County, KS (42.3).

  • 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). Harvey County's score of 35.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Harvey 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 Harvey County?

    Harvey County, Kansas has a population of approximately 33,504 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.