Cass County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 49.5 | 111,732 people · 52nd most distressed in Missouri
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Cass County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 49.5 — 1603rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Missouri, it ranks 52nd of 115 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cass County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 70.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 70.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Housing Cost Burden 58.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 66
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 72
Homeownership Rate 42
Economic Vitality 55.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 90
Rent-to-Income Ratio 29
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 64
Consumer Credit Distress 51.4
Debt in Collections 57
Medical Debt 82
Auto Loan Delinquency 40
Credit Card Delinquency 39
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 47
Structural Poverty 13.1
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 4
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 6
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 20

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
Cass County, MO 49.5 Normal —
Jackson County, MO 66.3 Serious +16.8
Henry County, MO 62.9 Elevated +13.4
Bates County, MO 58.2 Elevated +8.7
Johnson County, MO 45.8 Normal -3.7
Miami County, KS 36.5 Normal -13.0
Johnson County, KS 27.1 Healthy -22.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cass County
Monongalia County, WV 49.5 Normal -0.0
Marion County, WV 49.4 Normal -0.1
Wagoner County, OK 49.6 Normal +0.1
Berkshire County, MA 49.6 Normal +0.1
Blount County, TN 49.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cass 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 Cass 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 Cass County, Missouri?

    Cass County has a County Distress Index score of 49.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,603rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cass County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cass County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 70.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cass County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cass County (49.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Jackson County, MO (66.3); Henry County, MO (62.9); Bates County, MO (58.2).

  • 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). Cass County's score of 49.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cass 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 Cass County?

    Cass County, Missouri has a population of approximately 111,732 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.