Shawnee County, Kansas

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.1 | 177,746 people · 7th most distressed in Kansas
American Default Research

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Shawnee County, KS registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.1 — 1142nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Kansas, it ranks 7th of 105 counties. It scores higher 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. Shawnee County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.5 — worse than roughly 86% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 86
Housing Cost Burden 68.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 69
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 80
Consumer Credit Distress 57.3
Debt in Collections 59
Medical Debt 83
Auto Loan Delinquency 51
Credit Card Delinquency 54
Uninsured Rate 52
Subprime Credit Population 48
Structural Poverty 38.7
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 42
Income vs. State Median 45
Child Poverty Rate 27
Disability Rate 40
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Economic Vitality 33.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 48

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Shawnee County
Shawnee County, KS 57.1 Elevated —
Douglas County, KS 47.8 Normal -9.3
Osage County, KS 45.4 Normal -11.7
Jackson County, KS 36.3 Normal -20.8
Jefferson County, KS 29.1 Healthy -28.0
Wabaunsee County, KS 26.9 Healthy -30.2
Pottawatomie County, KS 21.0 Healthy -36.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Shawnee County
Robertson County, TN 57.1 Elevated 0.0
Shasta County, CA 57.2 Elevated +0.1
Otero County, NM 56.9 Elevated -0.2
Allen County, OH 57.3 Elevated +0.2
Allegany County, MD 57.4 Elevated +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Shawnee County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Shawnee County.

HOUSING AND CREDIT COUNSELING, INC. (HCCI)
Topeka
785-234-0217 Website
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial Counseling

See all counselors in Kansas →

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 Shawnee 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Shawnee County has a County Distress Index score of 57.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,142nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Kansas out of 105 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Shawnee County?

    The primary driver of distress in Shawnee County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Shawnee County compare to neighboring counties?

    Shawnee County (57.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Douglas County, KS (47.8); Osage County, KS (45.4); Jackson County, KS (36.3).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Shawnee County's score of 57.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Shawnee 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 Shawnee County?

    Shawnee County, Kansas has a population of approximately 177,746 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.