Osborne County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.4 | 3,427 people · 47th most distressed in Kansas
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Osborne County, KS falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.4 — 2347th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Kansas, it ranks 47th of 105 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Osborne County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 58.0 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 58.0
Unemployment Rate 80
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 36
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Economic Vitality 49.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 54
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 71
House Price Change (YoY) 40
Consumer Credit Distress 45.5
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 34
Auto Loan Delinquency 39
Credit Card Delinquency 88
Uninsured Rate 22
Subprime Credit Population 32
Housing Cost Burden 13.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 8
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 39
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Osborne County
Osborne County, KS 37.4 Normal —
Ellis County, KS 39.4 Normal +2.0
Lincoln County, KS 37.2 Normal -0.2
Russell County, KS 36.9 Normal -0.5
Rooks County, KS 34.4 Healthy -3.0
Smith County, KS 33.3 Healthy -4.1
Jewell County, KS 28.4 Healthy -8.9
Mitchell County, KS 21.0 Healthy -16.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Osborne County
Hitchcock County, NE 37.4 Normal -0.0
Clear Creek County, CO 37.5 Normal +0.1
Dawson County, MT 37.5 Normal +0.1
Tyler County, WV 37.6 Normal +0.2
Archer County, TX 37.6 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Osborne County has a County Distress Index score of 37.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,347th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 47th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Osborne County?

    The primary driver of distress in Osborne County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 58.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Osborne County compare to neighboring counties?

    Osborne County (37.4) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Ellis County, KS (39.4); Lincoln County, KS (37.2); Russell County, KS (36.9).

  • 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). Osborne County's score of 37.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Osborne 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 Osborne County?

    Osborne County, Kansas has a population of approximately 3,427 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.