Meeker County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.9 | 23,490 people · 56th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Meeker County, MN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.9 — 2765th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Minnesota, it ranks 56th of 87 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. Meeker County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Housing Cost Burden 50.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 47
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 15
Structural Poverty 33.4
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 42
Economic Vitality 25.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 23
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 61
House Price Change (YoY) 31
Consumer Credit Distress 13.6
Debt in Collections 1
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 8
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Meeker County
Meeker County, MN 29.9 Healthy —
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal +9.3
Renville County, MN 33.8 Healthy +3.9
Kandiyohi County, MN 31.9 Healthy +2.0
McLeod County, MN 30.9 Healthy +1.0
Wright County, MN 29.9 Healthy +0.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Meeker County
Koochiching County, MN 29.9 Healthy -0.0
Floyd County, VA 29.9 Healthy +0.0
Carbon County, MT 30.0 Healthy +0.1
Guthrie County, IA 29.8 Healthy -0.1
Cerro Gordo County, IA 30.1 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Meeker County

Find an Attorney

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyer Referral 612-278-6333

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Meeker County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis 612-334-5970
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid 612-332-1441
Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services 1-888-575-2954
Central Minnesota Legal Services, Inc. (612) 334-5970
Legal Aid Service of Northeastern Minnesota (800) 933-1112
Legal Services of Northwest Minnesota Corporation (800) 450-8585

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Meeker County, Minnesota?

    Meeker County has a County Distress Index score of 29.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,765th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 56th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Meeker County?

    The primary driver of distress in Meeker County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Meeker County compare to neighboring counties?

    Meeker County (29.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Stearns County, MN (39.1); Renville County, MN (33.8); Kandiyohi County, MN (31.9).

  • 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 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). Meeker County's score of 29.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Meeker 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 Meeker County?

    Meeker County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 23,490 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.