Montgomery County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.7 | 11,459 people · 75th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Montgomery County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.7 — 1911th 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 75th of 115 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Montgomery County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 55.1 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 55.1
Debt in Collections 50
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 64
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Uninsured Rate 65
Subprime Credit Population 62
Structural Poverty 50.6
Unemployment Rate 19
Poverty Rate 59
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 59
Disability Rate 70
Transfer Income Dependency 52
Legal Distress 48.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Housing Cost Burden 25.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 58
Homeownership Rate 56
Economic Vitality 25.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 17
Rent-to-Income Ratio 23
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Montgomery County, MO 44.7 Normal —
Audrain County, MO 57.4 Elevated +12.7
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal +2.7
Lincoln County, MO 47.1 Normal +2.4
Callaway County, MO 46.8 Normal +2.1
Pike County, MO 46.6 Normal +1.9
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal -2.6
Osage County, MO 19.8 Healthy -24.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Montgomery County
Benewah County, ID 44.7 Normal 0.0
Mifflin County, PA 44.7 Normal 0.0
Llano County, TX 44.8 Normal +0.1
Webster County, MO 44.9 Normal +0.1
Allegany County, NY 44.6 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Montgomery 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 Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Missouri?

    Montgomery County has a County Distress Index score of 44.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,911th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 75th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Montgomery County?

    The primary driver of distress in Montgomery County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 55.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Montgomery County compare to neighboring counties?

    Montgomery County (44.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Audrain County, MO (57.4); Warren County, MO (47.4); Lincoln County, MO (47.1).

  • 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). Montgomery County's score of 44.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Montgomery 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 Montgomery County?

    Montgomery County, Missouri has a population of approximately 11,459 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.