Saline County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 63.4 | 23,049 people · 19th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Saline County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 63.4 — 754th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where residents carry heavy debt burdens with elevated delinquency and collections rates. Within Missouri, it ranks 19th of 115 counties. It scores higher 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. Saline County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 71.1 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 71.1
Debt in Collections 74
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 88
Credit Card Delinquency 91
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 63
Housing Cost Burden 60.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 34
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 48
Homeownership Rate 67
Legal Distress 60.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Structural Poverty 58.8
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 76
Income vs. State Median 60
Child Poverty Rate 68
Disability Rate 65
Transfer Income Dependency 61
Economic Vitality 39.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 33
Rent-to-Income Ratio 37
Business Formation Rate 79
House Price Change (YoY) 4

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Saline County
Saline County, MO 63.4 Elevated —
Pettis County, MO 58.0 Elevated -5.4
Lafayette County, MO 54.5 Elevated -8.8
Howard County, MO 50.4 Elevated -12.9
Carroll County, MO 43.2 Normal -20.1
Cooper County, MO 43.1 Normal -20.2
Chariton County, MO 27.5 Healthy -35.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Saline County
Lamar County, GA 63.4 Elevated 0.0
Jasper County, GA 63.4 Elevated -0.0
Knott County, KY 63.3 Elevated -0.1
Clarke County, AL 63.3 Elevated -0.1
Lincoln County, WV 63.5 Elevated +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Saline 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 Saline 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 Saline County, Missouri?

    Saline County has a County Distress Index score of 63.4 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 754th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Saline County?

    The primary driver of distress in Saline County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 71.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Saline County compare to neighboring counties?

    Saline County (63.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Pettis County, MO (58.0); Lafayette County, MO (54.5); Howard County, MO (50.4).

  • 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). Saline County's score of 63.4 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Saline 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 Saline County?

    Saline County, Missouri has a population of approximately 23,049 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.