Lincoln County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.1 | 64,699 people · 63rd most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Lincoln County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.1 — 1771st 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 63rd of 115 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 76.0 — worse than roughly 76% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 76.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 76
Consumer Credit Distress 50.8
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 69
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 55
Economic Vitality 48.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 67
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 39
House Price Change (YoY) 58
Housing Cost Burden 45.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 42
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 57
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 47
Homeownership Rate 27
Structural Poverty 19.2
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 6
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 25

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, MO 47.1 Normal —
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal +0.3
Pike County, MO 46.6 Normal -0.5
Montgomery County, MO 44.7 Normal -2.4
St. Charles County, MO 30.1 Healthy -17.0
Calhoun County, IL 20.5 Healthy -26.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Montcalm County, MI 47.1 Normal -0.0
Jessamine County, KY 47.0 Normal -0.1
San Benito County, CA 47.2 Normal +0.1
Clermont County, OH 47.2 Normal +0.1
Santa Rosa County, FL 47.0 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Missouri?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 47.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,771st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 63rd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 76.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (47.1) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Warren County, MO (47.4); Pike County, MO (46.6); Montgomery County, MO (44.7).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 47.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Missouri has a population of approximately 64,699 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.