Cooper County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.1 | 16,947 people · 81st most distressed in Missouri
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Cooper County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.1 — 2004th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Missouri, it ranks 81st of 115 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Cooper County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 59.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 59.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Consumer Credit Distress 45.1
Debt in Collections 46
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 54
Housing Cost Burden 43.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 39
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 48
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 28
Economic Vitality 40.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 68
Rent-to-Income Ratio 7
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 9
Structural Poverty 28.8
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 26
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 47

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cooper County
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal —
Saline County, MO 63.4 Elevated +20.2
Pettis County, MO 58.0 Elevated +14.8
Morgan County, MO 57.4 Elevated +14.3
Howard County, MO 50.4 Elevated +7.3
Boone County, MO 46.9 Normal +3.8
Moniteau County, MO 33.2 Healthy -9.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cooper County
Gloucester County, VA 43.1 Normal -0.0
Cassia County, ID 43.1 Normal -0.1
Iosco County, MI 43.2 Normal +0.1
Pulaski County, IN 43.3 Normal +0.1
Humboldt County, NV 43.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cooper 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 Cooper 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 Cooper County, Missouri?

    Cooper County has a County Distress Index score of 43.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,004th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 81st in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cooper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cooper County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 59.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Cooper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cooper County (43.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Saline County, MO (63.4); Pettis County, MO (58.0); Morgan County, MO (57.4).

  • 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). Cooper County's score of 43.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cooper 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 Cooper County?

    Cooper County, Missouri has a population of approximately 16,947 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.