Pettis County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.0 | 43,530 people · 30th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Pettis County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.0 — 1077th 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 30th of 115 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pettis County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 61.8 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 61.8
Debt in Collections 65
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 58
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 77
Subprime Credit Population 65
Housing Cost Burden 60.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 57
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 66
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 35
Homeownership Rate 70
Legal Distress 58.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Structural Poverty 52.5
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 54
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 63
Economic Vitality 40.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 52
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pettis County
Pettis County, MO 58.0 Elevated —
Saline County, MO 63.4 Elevated +5.4
Henry County, MO 62.9 Elevated +4.9
Benton County, MO 62.5 Elevated +4.6
Morgan County, MO 57.4 Elevated -0.5
Lafayette County, MO 54.5 Elevated -3.4
Johnson County, MO 45.8 Normal -12.2
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal -14.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pettis County
Jefferson County, OR 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Bourbon County, KS 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Abbeville County, SC 58.0 Elevated +0.0
Warren County, TN 57.9 Elevated -0.0
Lewis County, WV 57.9 Elevated -0.0

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pettis 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 Pettis 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 Pettis County, Missouri?

    Pettis County has a County Distress Index score of 58.0 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,077th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 30th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pettis County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pettis County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 61.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Pettis County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pettis County (58.0) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Saline County, MO (63.4); Henry County, MO (62.9); Benton County, MO (62.5).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Pettis County's score of 58.0 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Pettis 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 Pettis County?

    Pettis County, Missouri has a population of approximately 43,530 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.