Wright County, Minnesota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.9 | 151,150 people · 55th most distressed in Minnesota
American Default Research

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Wright County, MN ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.9 — 2762nd 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 55th of 87 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Wright County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 77.9 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 77.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Economic Vitality 67.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 93
Rent-to-Income Ratio 35
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Housing Cost Burden 52.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 4
Structural Poverty 12.2
Unemployment Rate 72
Poverty Rate 1
Income vs. State Median 5
Child Poverty Rate 1
Disability Rate 1
Transfer Income Dependency 7
Consumer Credit Distress 9.6
Debt in Collections 4
Medical Debt 14
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 10
Uninsured Rate 12
Subprime Credit Population 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Wright County
Wright County, MN 29.9 Healthy —
Stearns County, MN 39.1 Normal +9.2
Hennepin County, MN 37.5 Normal +7.5
Sherburne County, MN 32.9 Healthy +3.0
McLeod County, MN 30.9 Healthy +1.0
Meeker County, MN 29.9 Healthy -0.0
Carver County, MN 22.0 Healthy -7.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Wright County
Broomfield County, CO 29.9 Healthy 0.0
Bristol County, RI 29.9 Healthy +0.0
Olmsted County, MN 30.0 Healthy +0.1
Scott County, MN 29.2 Healthy -0.8
Eau Claire County, WI 30.7 Healthy +0.8

Download Data

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

Find Help in Wright 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 Wright 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 Wright County, Minnesota?

    Wright County has a County Distress Index score of 29.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,762nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 55th in Minnesota out of 87 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Wright County?

    The primary driver of distress in Wright County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 77.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Wright County compare to neighboring counties?

    Wright County (29.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Stearns County, MN (39.1); Hennepin County, MN (37.5); 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 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). Wright County's score of 29.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Wright 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 Wright County?

    Wright County, Minnesota has a population of approximately 151,150 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.