Clay County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.0 | 259,772 people · 64th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Clay County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.0 — 1777th 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 64th of 115 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Clay County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 67.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 67.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 68
Housing Cost Burden 64.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 68
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 50
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 74
Economic Vitality 46.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 57
Rent-to-Income Ratio 30
Business Formation Rate 29
House Price Change (YoY) 74
Consumer Credit Distress 45.0
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 44
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 43
Subprime Credit Population 46
Structural Poverty 14.5
Unemployment Rate 45
Poverty Rate 6
Income vs. State Median 4
Child Poverty Rate 7
Disability Rate 21
Transfer Income Dependency 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Clay County, MO 47.0 Normal —
Wyandotte County, KS 75.9 Serious +29.0
Jackson County, MO 66.3 Serious +19.3
Ray County, MO 46.6 Normal -0.3
Clinton County, MO 39.4 Normal -7.5
Platte County, MO 35.7 Normal -11.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Clay County
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal -0.0
Ventura County, CA 47.3 Normal +0.3
Ocean County, NJ 47.3 Normal +0.4
Cherokee County, GA 47.3 Normal +0.4
Erie County, NY 46.4 Normal -0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Clay 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 Clay 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 Clay County, Missouri?

    Clay County has a County Distress Index score of 47.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,777th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Clay County?

    The primary driver of distress in Clay County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 67.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Clay County compare to neighboring counties?

    Clay County (47.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wyandotte County, KS (75.9); Jackson County, MO (66.3); Ray County, MO (46.6).

  • 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). Clay County's score of 47.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Clay 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 Clay County?

    Clay County, Missouri has a population of approximately 259,772 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.