Franklin County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.2 | 106,404 people · 78th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Franklin County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.2 — 1942nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Missouri, it ranks 78th of 115 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Franklin County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 58.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 58.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 72
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Legal Distress 54.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 54
Housing Cost Burden 45.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 44
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 49
Homeownership Rate 39
Consumer Credit Distress 45.3
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 45
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 46
Subprime Credit Population 39
Structural Poverty 23.1
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 19
Income vs. State Median 13
Child Poverty Rate 13
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 36

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Franklin County, MO 44.2 Normal —
Washington County, MO 69.1 Serious +24.9
Crawford County, MO 55.4 Elevated +11.2
St. Louis County, MO 49.0 Normal +4.7
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal +3.2
Jefferson County, MO 42.6 Normal -1.6
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal -2.1
St. Charles County, MO 30.1 Healthy -14.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Franklin County
Limestone County, AL 44.2 Normal +0.0
Cayuga County, NY 44.2 Normal +0.0
Scott County, IA 44.2 Normal -0.1
Maui County, HI 44.1 Normal -0.1
Carteret County, NC 44.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Franklin 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 Franklin 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Missouri →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Franklin County, Missouri?

    Franklin County has a County Distress Index score of 44.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,942nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 78th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Franklin County?

    The primary driver of distress in Franklin County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 58.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Franklin County compare to neighboring counties?

    Franklin County (44.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Washington County, MO (69.1); Crawford County, MO (55.4); St. Louis County, MO (49.0).

  • 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). Franklin County's score of 44.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Franklin 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 Franklin County?

    Franklin County, Missouri has a population of approximately 106,404 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.