Perry County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.3 | 18,950 people · 73rd most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Perry County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.3 — 1882nd 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 73rd of 115 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Perry County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 72.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 72.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Consumer Credit Distress 46.7
Debt in Collections 47
Medical Debt 88
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 33
Housing Cost Burden 45.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 37
Homeownership Rate 32
Economic Vitality 40.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 29
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 89
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Structural Poverty 29.5
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 22
Child Poverty Rate 25
Disability Rate 43
Transfer Income Dependency 49

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal —
St. Francois County, MO 67.6 Serious +22.3
Madison County, MO 63.0 Elevated +17.8
Jackson County, IL 59.9 Elevated +14.7
Bollinger County, MO 57.4 Elevated +12.1
Cape Girardeau County, MO 49.7 Normal +4.5
Union County, IL 44.0 Normal -1.3
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal -5.2
Ste. Genevieve County, MO 30.6 Healthy -14.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Perry County
Lincoln County, NE 45.2 Normal -0.0
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -0.0
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +0.1
Kittitas County, WA 45.3 Normal +0.1
Logan County, OH 45.2 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Perry 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 Perry 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Missouri →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Perry County, Missouri?

    Perry County has a County Distress Index score of 45.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,882nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 73rd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Perry County?

    The primary driver of distress in Perry County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 72.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Perry County compare to neighboring counties?

    Perry County (45.3) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: St. Francois County, MO (67.6); Madison County, MO (63.0); Jackson County, IL (59.9).

  • 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 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). Perry County's score of 45.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Perry 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 Perry County?

    Perry County, Missouri has a population of approximately 18,950 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.