Swift County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.9 | 9,719 people · 22nd most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Swift County, MN falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.9 — 2366th 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 22nd of 87 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. Swift County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.2 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 85
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 21
Homeownership Rate 51
Legal Distress 57.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 58
Structural Poverty 47.9
Unemployment Rate 95
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 59
Child Poverty Rate 22
Disability Rate 61
Transfer Income Dependency 34
Economic Vitality 29.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 10
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Consumer Credit Distress 13.7
Debt in Collections 12
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 13
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Swift County
Swift County, MN 36.9 Normal —
Chippewa County, MN 35.0 Healthy -2.0
Pope County, MN 33.7 Healthy -3.2
Kandiyohi County, MN 31.9 Healthy -5.1
Big Stone County, MN 25.8 Healthy -11.2
Lac qui Parle County, MN 24.3 Healthy -12.7
Stevens County, MN 18.0 Healthy -19.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Swift County
Stevens County, KS 36.9 Normal 0.0
Stanton County, NE 36.9 Normal -0.0
Russell County, KS 36.9 Normal -0.0
Broadwater County, MT 36.9 Normal -0.1
Boyd County, NE 37.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Swift 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 Swift 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Swift County has a County Distress Index score of 36.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,366th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Swift County?

    The primary driver of distress in Swift County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Swift County compare to neighboring counties?

    Swift County (36.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Chippewa County, MN (35.0); Pope County, MN (33.7); 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 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). Swift County's score of 36.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Swift 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 Swift County?

    Swift County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 9,719 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.