St. Louis city, Missouri

County Distress Index: Serious · 73.9 | 281,754 people · 6th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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St. Louis city, MO shows significant household financial distress with a score of 73.9 — 229th 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 6th of 115 counties. It scores higher than all 3 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. St. Louis city's primary driver is Legal Distress at 98.8 — worse than roughly 99% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 98.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 99
Consumer Credit Distress 80.9
Debt in Collections 92
Medical Debt 65
Auto Loan Delinquency 95
Credit Card Delinquency 76
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 80
Housing Cost Burden 77.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 69
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 80
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 99
Structural Poverty 57.6
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 86
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 85
Disability Rate 57
Transfer Income Dependency 29
Economic Vitality 33.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 4
Rent-to-Income Ratio 87
Business Formation Rate 4
House Price Change (YoY) 77

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Louis city
St. Louis city, MO 73.9 Serious —
St. Clair County, IL 61.5 Elevated -12.4
St. Louis County, MO 49.0 Normal -25.0
Madison County, IL 47.0 Normal -26.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. St. Louis city
Escambia County, FL 73.6 Serious -0.3
Prince George's County, MD 73.5 Serious -0.4
Cumberland County, NC 74.3 Serious +0.4
Lubbock County, TX 74.3 Serious +0.4
Jefferson County, TX 73.3 Serious -0.6

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for St. Louis city as a CSV file.

Find Help in St. Louis city

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near St. Louis city.

BETTER FAMILY LIFE, INC.
Saint Louis
314-367-3440 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPre-Purchase
JUSTINE PETERSEN HOUSING AND REINVESTMENT CORPORATION
Saint Louis
314-533-2411 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPre-Purchase
NSC (NACA COUNSELING SUBSIDIARY) - ST. LOUIS, MO
SAINT LOUIS
314-645-8333 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingPost-Purchase
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS INC - PETER H. BUNCE WATER TOWER CENTER
Saint Louis
314-615-3644 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingHomeless/DisplacementPost-Purchase
URBAN LEAGUE OF METROPOLITAN SAINT LOUIS, INC.
Saint Louis
314-615-3600 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFair HousingHome Improvement/RehabHomeless/Displacement

See all counselors in Missouri →

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 St. Louis city 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for St. Louis city, Missouri?

    St. Louis city has a County Distress Index score of 73.9 out of 100, placing it in the Serious zone. It ranks 229th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in St. Louis city?

    The primary driver of distress in St. Louis city is Legal Distress, where the county scores 98.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does St. Louis city compare to neighboring counties?

    St. Louis city (73.9) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: St. Clair County, IL (61.5); St. Louis County, MO (49.0); Madison County, IL (47.0).

  • 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 Serious 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). St. Louis city's score of 73.9 sits in the Serious zone (71–86).

  • What data sources power St. Louis city's CDI score?

    St. Louis city'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 St. Louis city?

    St. Louis city, Missouri has a population of approximately 281,754 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.