Stoddard County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 58.2 | 28,397 people · 29th most distressed in Missouri
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Stoddard County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 58.2 — 1063rd 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 29th of 115 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Stoddard County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 78.1 — worse than roughly 78% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 78.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 78
Consumer Credit Distress 67.5
Debt in Collections 66
Medical Debt 55
Auto Loan Delinquency 69
Credit Card Delinquency 67
Uninsured Rate 76
Subprime Credit Population 73
Structural Poverty 65.7
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 51
Income vs. State Median 69
Child Poverty Rate 50
Disability Rate 88
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 41.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 34
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 42
House Price Change (YoY) 73
Housing Cost Burden 33.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 23
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 64
Homeownership Rate 68

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Stoddard County
Stoddard County, MO 58.2 Elevated —
Dunklin County, MO 79.2 Serious +21.0
Wayne County, MO 75.2 Serious +17.0
New Madrid County, MO 70.1 Serious +11.9
Butler County, MO 70.0 Serious +11.8
Scott County, MO 67.0 Serious +8.8
Bollinger County, MO 57.4 Elevated -0.8
Cape Girardeau County, MO 49.7 Normal -8.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Stoddard County
Perry County, AR 58.2 Elevated -0.0
Bates County, MO 58.2 Elevated +0.0
Graves County, KY 58.1 Elevated -0.0
Brooke County, WV 58.1 Elevated -0.0
Tishomingo County, MS 58.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Stoddard 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 Stoddard 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 Stoddard County, Missouri?

    Stoddard County has a County Distress Index score of 58.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,063rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 29th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Stoddard County?

    The primary driver of distress in Stoddard County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 78.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Stoddard County compare to neighboring counties?

    Stoddard County (58.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Dunklin County, MO (79.2); Wayne County, MO (75.2); New Madrid County, MO (70.1).

  • 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). Stoddard County's score of 58.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Stoddard 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 Stoddard County?

    Stoddard County, Missouri has a population of approximately 28,397 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.