Dallas County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 57.8 | 17,768 people · 31st most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Dallas County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 57.8 — 1091st 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 31st 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. Dallas County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 71.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 71.5
Debt in Collections 67
Medical Debt 85
Auto Loan Delinquency 89
Credit Card Delinquency 50
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 63
Structural Poverty 61.5
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 70
Disability Rate 87
Transfer Income Dependency 78
Economic Vitality 51.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 46
House Price Change (YoY) 50
Legal Distress 48.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 49
Housing Cost Burden 31.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 35
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 31
Homeownership Rate 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallas County
Dallas County, MO 57.8 Elevated —
Hickory County, MO 66.8 Serious +9.0
Greene County, MO 57.7 Elevated -0.1
Laclede County, MO 55.5 Elevated -2.3
Polk County, MO 53.8 Elevated -4.0
Webster County, MO 44.9 Normal -13.0
Camden County, MO 37.0 Normal -20.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dallas County
Knox County, IL 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Pickens County, GA 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Lincoln County, KY 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Gallia County, OH 57.8 Elevated -0.0
Franklin County, FL 57.8 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dallas 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 Dallas 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 Dallas County, Missouri?

    Dallas County has a County Distress Index score of 57.8 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,091st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 31st in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dallas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dallas County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 71.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Dallas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dallas County (57.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Hickory County, MO (66.8); Greene County, MO (57.7); Laclede County, MO (55.5).

  • 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). Dallas County's score of 57.8 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Dallas 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 Dallas County?

    Dallas County, Missouri has a population of approximately 17,768 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.