Marshall County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 9,933 people · 42nd most distressed in Kansas
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Marshall County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2251st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing costs consume a moderate share of household income. Within Kansas, it ranks 42nd of 105 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Marshall County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 62.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 62.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 87
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 24
Homeownership Rate 9
Structural Poverty 38.4
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 14
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 15
Disability Rate 44
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Consumer Credit Distress 31.9
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 25
Auto Loan Delinquency 66
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 17
Legal Distress 31.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31
Economic Vitality 27.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 16
Rent-to-Income Ratio 8
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 87

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Marshall County, KS 39.1 Normal —
Riley County, KS 50.0 Elevated +10.9
Gage County, NE 37.5 Normal -1.6
Pawnee County, NE 35.8 Normal -3.3
Washington County, KS 21.3 Healthy -17.8
Pottawatomie County, KS 21.0 Healthy -18.0
Nemaha County, KS 15.1 Healthy -23.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Marshall County
Forest County, WI 39.1 Normal 0.0
Pendleton County, WV 39.1 Normal +0.0
Benson County, ND 39.0 Normal -0.0
Sherman County, OR 39.0 Normal -0.0
Schoolcraft County, MI 39.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Marshall County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,251st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 42nd in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Marshall County?

    The primary driver of distress in Marshall County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 62.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Marshall County compare to neighboring counties?

    Marshall County (39.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Riley County, KS (50.0); Gage County, NE (37.5); Pawnee County, NE (35.8).

  • 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 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). Marshall County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Marshall 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 Marshall County?

    Marshall County, Kansas has a population of approximately 9,933 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.