Livingston County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 41.0 | 14,557 people · 87th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Livingston County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 41.0 — 2126th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency levels sit above the national average. Within Missouri, it ranks 87th of 115 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Livingston County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 46.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 46.5
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 53
Auto Loan Delinquency 19
Credit Card Delinquency 52
Uninsured Rate 69
Subprime Credit Population 49
Structural Poverty 46.4
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 53
Income vs. State Median 37
Child Poverty Rate 51
Disability Rate 46
Transfer Income Dependency 65
Economic Vitality 38.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 94
Legal Distress 34.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 34
Housing Cost Burden 29.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 29
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 16
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 10
Homeownership Rate 76

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Livingston County
Livingston County, MO 41.0 Normal —
Grundy County, MO 47.5 Normal +6.5
Carroll County, MO 43.2 Normal +2.2
Caldwell County, MO 43.1 Normal +2.1
Linn County, MO 42.9 Normal +1.9
Daviess County, MO 31.6 Healthy -9.4
Chariton County, MO 27.5 Healthy -13.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Livingston County
Uinta County, WY 41.0 Normal 0.0
Kingfisher County, OK 41.0 Normal +0.0
Henry County, IA 41.1 Normal +0.1
Macoupin County, IL 41.1 Normal +0.1
Whitman County, WA 41.1 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Livingston 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 Livingston 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 Livingston County, Missouri?

    Livingston County has a County Distress Index score of 41.0 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,126th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 87th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Livingston County?

    The primary driver of distress in Livingston County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 46.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Livingston County compare to neighboring counties?

    Livingston County (41.0) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grundy County, MO (47.5); Carroll County, MO (43.2); Caldwell County, MO (43.1).

  • 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). Livingston County's score of 41.0 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Livingston 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 Livingston County?

    Livingston County, Missouri has a population of approximately 14,557 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.