Ralls County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.8 | 10,489 people · 104th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Ralls County, MO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.8 — 2597th 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 104th of 115 counties. It scores lower than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ralls County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 46.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 46.0
Debt in Collections 35
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 61
Credit Card Delinquency 90
Uninsured Rate 26
Subprime Credit Population 18
Structural Poverty 32.9
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 35
Disability Rate 51
Transfer Income Dependency 46
Legal Distress 23.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 23
Economic Vitality 22.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 27
Housing Cost Burden 12.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 15
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 13
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ralls County
Ralls County, MO 32.8 Healthy —
Audrain County, MO 57.4 Elevated +24.6
Marion County, MO 47.7 Normal +15.0
Pike County, MO 46.6 Normal +13.8
Pike County, IL 46.5 Normal +13.8
Monroe County, MO 40.3 Normal +7.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ralls County
Carlton County, MN 32.8 Healthy +0.0
Chaffee County, CO 32.8 Healthy -0.0
Platte County, NE 32.7 Healthy -0.0
Morrow County, OR 32.7 Healthy -0.1
Shawano County, WI 32.9 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Ralls 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 Ralls 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 Ralls County, Missouri?

    Ralls County has a County Distress Index score of 32.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,597th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 104th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ralls County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ralls County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 46.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Ralls County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ralls County (32.8) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Audrain County, MO (57.4); Marion County, MO (47.7); Pike County, MO (46.6).

  • 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 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). Ralls County's score of 32.8 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Ralls 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 Ralls County?

    Ralls County, Missouri has a population of approximately 10,489 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.