Pratt County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.4 | 9,082 people · 76th most distressed in Kansas
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Pratt County, KS ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.4 — 2741st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where housing remains relatively affordable compared to local incomes. Within Kansas, it ranks 76th of 105 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pratt County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 41.0 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 41.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 68
Structural Poverty 34.9
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 56
Child Poverty Rate 24
Disability Rate 50
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Consumer Credit Distress 27.9
Debt in Collections 16
Medical Debt 24
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 39
Economic Vitality 26.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 38
House Price Change (YoY) 88
Legal Distress 11.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pratt County
Pratt County, KS 30.4 Healthy —
Reno County, KS 51.3 Elevated +20.9
Edwards County, KS 33.7 Healthy +3.3
Stafford County, KS 33.1 Healthy +2.8
Kingman County, KS 32.4 Healthy +2.0
Barber County, KS 30.8 Healthy +0.4
Kiowa County, KS 30.6 Healthy +0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pratt County
Sioux County, NE 30.4 Healthy +0.0
Washakie County, WY 30.4 Healthy +0.0
Bear Lake County, ID 30.3 Healthy -0.1
Ouray County, CO 30.4 Healthy +0.1
Brown County, KS 30.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pratt 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 Pratt County residents at no cost.

Kansas Legal Services 1-800-723-6953

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Kansas →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Pratt County has a County Distress Index score of 30.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,741st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 76th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pratt County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pratt County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 41.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Pratt County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pratt County (30.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Reno County, KS (51.3); Edwards County, KS (33.7); Stafford County, KS (33.1).

  • 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). Pratt County's score of 30.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Pratt 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 Pratt County?

    Pratt County, Kansas has a population of approximately 9,082 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.