Ozark County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.1 | 8,970 people · 86th most distressed in Missouri
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Ozark County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.1 — 2064th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where poverty rates are high, transfer income dependency is elevated, and household incomes lag well behind state and national medians. Within Missouri, it ranks 86th of 115 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ozark County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 92.1 — worse than roughly 92% of U.S. counties.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 92.1
Unemployment Rate 93
Poverty Rate 87
Income vs. State Median 90
Child Poverty Rate 92
Disability Rate 95
Transfer Income Dependency 95
Economic Vitality 74.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 84
Rent-to-Income Ratio 71
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Consumer Credit Distress 40.6
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 28
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 91
Subprime Credit Population 37
Housing Cost Burden 13.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 17
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ozark County
Ozark County, MO 42.1 Normal —
Taney County, MO 63.4 Elevated +21.4
Howell County, MO 61.2 Elevated +19.1
Fulton County, AR 59.6 Elevated +17.5
Baxter County, AR 54.2 Elevated +12.1
Douglas County, MO 52.8 Elevated +10.8
Marion County, AR 47.6 Normal +5.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ozark County
Doniphan County, KS 42.0 Normal -0.0
Lake County, CO 42.1 Normal +0.0
Mellette County, SD 42.0 Normal -0.1
Greene County, IA 42.1 Normal +0.1
Kusilvak Census Area, AK 41.9 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ozark 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 Ozark 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 Ozark County, Missouri?

    Ozark County has a County Distress Index score of 42.1 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,064th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 86th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ozark County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ozark County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 92.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Ozark County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ozark County (42.1) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Taney County, MO (63.4); Howell County, MO (61.2); Fulton County, AR (59.6).

  • 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). Ozark County's score of 42.1 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Ozark 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 Ozark County?

    Ozark County, Missouri has a population of approximately 8,970 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.