Lewis County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.0 | 9,818 people · 79th most distressed in Missouri
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Lewis County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.0 — 1956th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where income and poverty levels indicate moderate economic strain. Within Missouri, it ranks 79th of 115 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lewis County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 52.8 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 52.8
Unemployment Rate 64
Poverty Rate 63
Income vs. State Median 42
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 68
Consumer Credit Distress 49.3
Debt in Collections 53
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 27
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 50
Economic Vitality 43.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 47
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 80
House Price Change (YoY) 12
Housing Cost Burden 37.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 34
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 35
Legal Distress 15.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Lewis County, MO 44.0 Normal —
Clark County, MO 53.1 Elevated +9.2
Marion County, MO 47.7 Normal +3.8
Adams County, IL 44.8 Normal +0.9
Knox County, MO 31.4 Healthy -12.6
Hancock County, IL 28.9 Healthy -15.1
Shelby County, MO 28.2 Healthy -15.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lewis County
Winkler County, TX 44.0 Normal +0.1
Searcy County, AR 43.8 Normal -0.2
Bennett County, SD 44.2 Normal +0.3
Grant County, OK 44.4 Normal +0.4
Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area, AK 44.5 Normal +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lewis 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 Lewis 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 Lewis County, Missouri?

    Lewis County has a County Distress Index score of 44.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,956th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 79th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lewis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lewis County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 52.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Lewis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lewis County (44.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Clark County, MO (53.1); Marion County, MO (47.7); Adams County, IL (44.8).

  • 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 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). Lewis County's score of 44.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lewis 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 Lewis County?

    Lewis County, Missouri has a population of approximately 9,818 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.