Stearns County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.1 | 160,977 people · 16th most distressed in Minnesota
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Stearns County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.1 — 2243rd 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 16th of 87 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 8 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Stearns County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 78.0 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 78.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 74
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 83
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 75
Homeownership Rate 78
Legal Distress 77.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Economic Vitality 39.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 55
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Structural Poverty 31.0
Unemployment Rate 74
Poverty Rate 29
Income vs. State Median 38
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 12
Transfer Income Dependency 21
Consumer Credit Distress 17.2
Debt in Collections 12
Medical Debt 14
Auto Loan Delinquency 23
Credit Card Delinquency 19
Uninsured Rate 13
Subprime Credit Population 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Stearns County
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal —
Benton County, MN 39.6 Normal +0.5
Pope County, MN 33.7 Healthy -5.4
Sherburne County, MN 32.9 Healthy -6.2
Todd County, MN 32.0 Healthy -7.2
Kandiyohi County, MN 31.9 Healthy -7.3
Wright County, MN 29.9 Healthy -9.2
Meeker County, MN 29.9 Healthy -9.3
Morrison County, MN 25.1 Healthy -14.1
Douglas County, MN 22.6 Healthy -16.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Stearns County
Hampshire County, MA 39.1 Normal -0.0
Barnstable County, MA 39.1 Normal -0.0
Waupaca County, WI 39.1 Normal -0.0
Greene County, OH 39.2 Normal +0.1
Lower Connecticut River Valley Planning Region, CT 39.1 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Stearns 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 Stearns 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 Stearns County, Minnesota?

    Stearns County has a County Distress Index score of 39.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,243rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Stearns County?

    The primary driver of distress in Stearns County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 78.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Stearns County compare to neighboring counties?

    Stearns County (39.1) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Benton County, MN (39.6); Pope County, MN (33.7); Sherburne County, MN (32.9).

  • 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 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). Stearns County's score of 39.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Stearns 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 Stearns County?

    Stearns County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 160,977 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.