Ramsey County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.6 | 536,075 people · 2nd most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Ramsey County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.6 — 1734th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Minnesota, it ranks 2nd of 87 counties. It scores higher than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ramsey County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 87.7 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 87.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 89
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 84
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 92
Legal Distress 75.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 75
Economic Vitality 62.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 61
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 28
House Price Change (YoY) 60
Structural Poverty 31.8
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 31
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 22
Consumer Credit Distress 26.3
Debt in Collections 22
Medical Debt 15
Auto Loan Delinquency 42
Credit Card Delinquency 24
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ramsey County
Ramsey County, MN 47.6 Normal —
Anoka County, MN 38.2 Normal -9.5
Hennepin County, MN 37.5 Normal -10.2
Dakota County, MN 36.1 Normal -11.5
Washington County, MN 31.7 Healthy -15.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ramsey County
Spokane County, WA 47.7 Normal +0.0
Onondaga County, NY 47.6 Normal -0.0
Anchorage Municipality, AK 47.6 Normal -0.0
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal -0.3
Sarasota County, FL 48.0 Normal +0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ramsey County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Ramsey County.

COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSING SERVICES, INC DBA NEIGHBORWORKS HOME PARTNERS
Saint Paul
651-292-8710 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education
COMUNIDADES LATINAS UNIDAS EN SERVICIO-CLUES
Saint Paul
651-379-4200 Website
Mortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE OF MINNESOTA
SAINT PAUL
888-577-2227 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
MINNESOTA HOMEOWNERSHIP CENTER
SAINT PAUL
651-659-9336 Website
MODEL CITIES OF ST PAUL, INC.
Saint Paul
651-632-8350 Website
Pre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Minnesota →

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 Ramsey 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.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Ramsey County has a County Distress Index score of 47.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,734th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 2nd in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ramsey County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ramsey County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 87.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Ramsey County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ramsey County (47.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Anoka County, MN (38.2); Hennepin County, MN (37.5); Dakota County, MN (36.1).

  • 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 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). Ramsey County's score of 47.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Ramsey 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 Ramsey County?

    Ramsey County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 536,075 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.