Clark County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.1 | 6,641 people · 46th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Clark County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.1 — 1390th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Missouri, it ranks 46th of 115 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. Clark County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 60.0 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 60.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Consumer Credit Distress 58.8
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 57
Credit Card Delinquency 66
Uninsured Rate 71
Subprime Credit Population 43
Economic Vitality 55.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 48
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Structural Poverty 54.2
Unemployment Rate 52
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 49
Child Poverty Rate 64
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 64
Housing Cost Burden 37.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 16
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 54
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 66
Homeownership Rate 26

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Clark County, MO 53.1 Elevated —
Lee County, IA 47.7 Normal -5.4
Lewis County, MO 44.0 Normal -9.2
Van Buren County, IA 39.8 Normal -13.4
Scotland County, MO 32.3 Healthy -20.8
Knox County, MO 31.4 Healthy -21.7
Hancock County, IL 28.9 Healthy -24.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clark County
Guadalupe County, NM 53.1 Elevated -0.1
Grand County, UT 53.3 Elevated +0.2
Culberson County, TX 52.9 Elevated -0.2
McMullen County, TX 52.9 Elevated -0.3
Stark County, IL 52.8 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clark 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 Clark 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 Clark County, Missouri?

    Clark County has a County Distress Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,390th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clark County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 60.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Clark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clark County (53.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lee County, IA (47.7); Lewis County, MO (44.0); Van Buren County, IA (39.8).

  • 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). Clark County's score of 53.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Clark 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 Clark County?

    Clark County, Missouri has a population of approximately 6,641 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.