Morrison County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 25.1 | 34,250 people · 75th most distressed in Minnesota
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Morrison County, MN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 25.1 — 2966th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Minnesota, it ranks 75th of 87 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. Morrison County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 53.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 53.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 53
Structural Poverty 48.6
Unemployment Rate 99
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 61
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 25
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Economic Vitality 42.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 64
House Price Change (YoY) 66
Housing Cost Burden 25.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 84
Homeownership Rate 15
Consumer Credit Distress 10.3
Debt in Collections 3
Medical Debt 13
Auto Loan Delinquency 15
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 8
Subprime Credit Population 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrison County
Morrison County, MN 25.1 Healthy —
Mille Lacs County, MN 42.1 Normal +17.0
Benton County, MN 39.6 Normal +14.6
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal +14.1
Crow Wing County, MN 34.9 Healthy +9.9
Cass County, MN 33.5 Healthy +8.4
Todd County, MN 32.0 Healthy +6.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrison County
Washington County, NE 25.0 Healthy -0.1
Moultrie County, IL 25.2 Healthy +0.1
LaGrange County, IN 25.3 Healthy +0.2
Teton County, WY 25.3 Healthy +0.2
Dubois County, IN 24.8 Healthy -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morrison 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 Morrison 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 Morrison County, Minnesota?

    Morrison County has a County Distress Index score of 25.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,966th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morrison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morrison County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 53.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Morrison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morrison County (25.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Mille Lacs County, MN (42.1); Benton County, MN (39.6); Stearns County, MN (39.1).

  • 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). Morrison County's score of 25.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Morrison 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 Morrison County?

    Morrison County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 34,250 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.