Bates County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.2 | 16,242 people · 28th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Bates County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.2 — 1059th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Missouri, it ranks 28th of 115 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Bates County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 67.4 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 67.4
Debt in Collections 75
Medical Debt 95
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 67
Housing Cost Burden 61.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 56
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 61
Structural Poverty 50.8
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 42
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 59
Economic Vitality 46.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 58
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 49
House Price Change (YoY) 9
Legal Distress 18.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Bates County
Bates County, MO 58.2 Elevated —
Henry County, MO 62.9 Elevated +4.7
St. Clair County, MO 56.3 Elevated -1.9
Vernon County, MO 53.1 Elevated -5.1
Linn County, KS 50.9 Elevated -7.3
Cass County, MO 49.5 Normal -8.7
Miami County, KS 36.5 Normal -21.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Bates County
Stoddard County, MO 58.2 Elevated -0.0
Perry County, AR 58.2 Elevated -0.1
Graves County, KY 58.1 Elevated -0.1
Brooke County, WV 58.1 Elevated -0.1
Gates County, NC 58.3 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Bates 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 Bates 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 Bates County, Missouri?

    Bates County has a County Distress Index score of 58.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,059th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Bates County?

    The primary driver of distress in Bates County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 67.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Bates County compare to neighboring counties?

    Bates County (58.2) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Henry County, MO (62.9); St. Clair County, MO (56.3); Vernon County, MO (53.1).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Bates County's score of 58.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Bates 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 Bates County?

    Bates County, Missouri has a population of approximately 16,242 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.