Moniteau County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.2 | 15,256 people · 103rd most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Moniteau County, MO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.2 — 2571st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency rates remain below the national norm. Within Missouri, it ranks 103rd of 115 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Moniteau County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 41.5 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 41.5
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 10
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 44
Housing Cost Burden 31.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 42
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 30
Economic Vitality 27.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 33
Rent-to-Income Ratio 14
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Structural Poverty 23.0
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 22
Income vs. State Median 23
Child Poverty Rate 30
Disability Rate 24
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Legal Distress 10.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Moniteau County
Moniteau County, MO 33.2 Healthy —
Morgan County, MO 57.4 Elevated +24.2
Miller County, MO 48.2 Normal +15.0
Boone County, MO 46.9 Normal +13.7
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal +9.9
Cole County, MO 32.5 Healthy -0.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Moniteau County
Orange County, VT 33.2 Healthy -0.0
Fremont County, ID 33.3 Healthy +0.0
Mills County, IA 33.2 Healthy -0.0
Clay County, SD 33.1 Healthy -0.1
Pierce County, WI 33.1 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Moniteau 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 Moniteau 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 Moniteau County, Missouri?

    Moniteau County has a County Distress Index score of 33.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,571st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 103rd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Moniteau County?

    The primary driver of distress in Moniteau County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 41.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Moniteau County compare to neighboring counties?

    Moniteau County (33.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Morgan County, MO (57.4); Miller County, MO (48.2); Boone County, MO (46.9).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Moniteau County's score of 33.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Moniteau 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 Moniteau County?

    Moniteau County, Missouri has a population of approximately 15,256 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.