Jefferson County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.1 | 18,327 people · 81st most distressed in Kansas
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Jefferson County, KS ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.1 — 2801st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Kansas, it ranks 81st 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. Jefferson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 60.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 60.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Economic Vitality 41.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 65
House Price Change (YoY) 77
Housing Cost Burden 26.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 5
Consumer Credit Distress 25.6
Debt in Collections 27
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 15
Subprime Credit Population 19
Structural Poverty 20.8
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 11
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 29
Transfer Income Dependency 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Jefferson County, KS 29.1 Healthy —
Shawnee County, KS 57.1 Elevated +28.0
Douglas County, KS 47.8 Normal +18.8
Leavenworth County, KS 43.1 Normal +14.0
Atchison County, KS 39.0 Normal +9.9
Jackson County, KS 36.3 Normal +7.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Jefferson County
Juab County, UT 29.1 Healthy +0.0
Clayton County, IA 29.1 Healthy +0.0
San Juan County, WA 29.0 Healthy -0.1
Cedar County, IA 28.9 Healthy -0.1
Brown County, MN 29.2 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Jefferson 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 Jefferson 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 Jefferson County, Kansas?

    Jefferson County has a County Distress Index score of 29.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,801st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 81st in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Jefferson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Jefferson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 60.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Jefferson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Jefferson County (29.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Shawnee County, KS (57.1); Douglas County, KS (47.8); Leavenworth County, KS (43.1).

  • 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). Jefferson County's score of 29.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Jefferson 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 Jefferson County?

    Jefferson County, Kansas has a population of approximately 18,327 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.