Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.6 | 18,642 people · 109th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Ste. Genevieve County, MO ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.6 — 2730th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Missouri, it ranks 109th of 115 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Ste. Genevieve County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 45.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 45.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 46
Consumer Credit Distress 40.4
Debt in Collections 39
Medical Debt 49
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 28
Uninsured Rate 14
Subprime Credit Population 32
Structural Poverty 27.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 12
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 43
Economic Vitality 21.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 88
House Price Change (YoY) 20
Housing Cost Burden 10.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 12

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Ste. Genevieve County
Ste. Genevieve County, MO 30.6 Healthy —
St. Francois County, MO 67.6 Serious +37.0
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal +14.7
Jefferson County, MO 42.6 Normal +12.0
Randolph County, IL 40.0 Normal +9.5
Monroe County, IL 20.1 Healthy -10.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Ste. Genevieve County
Codington County, SD 30.5 Healthy -0.0
Poquoson city, VA 30.6 Healthy +0.0
Antrim County, MI 30.5 Healthy -0.0
Presque Isle County, MI 30.5 Healthy -0.0
Crawford County, IL 30.6 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Ste. Genevieve County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri?

    Ste. Genevieve County has a County Distress Index score of 30.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,730th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 109th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Ste. Genevieve County?

    The primary driver of distress in Ste. Genevieve County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 45.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Ste. Genevieve County compare to neighboring counties?

    Ste. Genevieve County (30.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: St. Francois County, MO (67.6); Perry County, MO (45.3); Jefferson County, MO (42.6).

  • 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). Ste. Genevieve County's score of 30.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Ste. Genevieve County's CDI score?

    Ste. Genevieve 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 Ste. Genevieve County?

    Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri has a population of approximately 18,642 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.