Barry County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.3 | 35,265 people · 53rd most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Barry County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.2 — 1623rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Missouri, it ranks 53rd of 115 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Barry County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 60.3 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 60.3
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 63
Child Poverty Rate 62
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Consumer Credit Distress 56.7
Debt in Collections 61
Medical Debt 41
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 81
Subprime Credit Population 45
Economic Vitality 41.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 39
Business Formation Rate 57
House Price Change (YoY) 54
Housing Cost Burden 39.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 36
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 20
Homeownership Rate 47
Legal Distress 21.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 22

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Barry County
Barry County, MO 49.3 Normal —
McDonald County, MO 55.8 Elevated +6.6
Carroll County, AR 53.0 Elevated +3.7
Lawrence County, MO 47.1 Normal -2.1
Newton County, MO 45.6 Normal -3.6
Stone County, MO 39.5 Normal -9.8
Benton County, AR 34.2 Healthy -15.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Barry County
Grant County, AR 49.3 Normal +0.0
King William County, VA 49.3 Normal +0.0
Delta County, CO 49.2 Normal -0.0
Ford County, KS 49.2 Normal -0.0
Marshall County, TN 49.3 Normal +0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Barry County

Find an Attorney

Missouri Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Missouri Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 573-635-4128

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Barry County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of Eastern Missouri 314-534-4200 (St. Louis); 1-800-444-0514 (statewide hotline)
Legal Aid of Western Missouri 816-474-6750 (Kansas City); 1-800-748-2057 (statewide hotline)
Central Missouri Legal Services 573-442-0116
The Legal Aid and Defender Association (LAD) 816-474-6750
Legal Services of Southern Missouri (417) 881-1397
Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation (573) 442-0116

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 Barry County, Missouri?

    Barry County has a County Distress Index score of 49.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,623rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 53rd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Barry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Barry County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 60.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Barry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Barry County (49.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: McDonald County, MO (55.8); Carroll County, AR (53.0); Lawrence County, MO (47.1).

  • 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). Barry County's score of 49.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Barry 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 Barry County?

    Barry County, Missouri has a population of approximately 35,265 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.