Sullivan County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.4 | 5,797 people · 72nd most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Sullivan County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.4 — 1875th 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 72nd of 115 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sullivan County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 61.7 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 61.7
Debt in Collections 48
Medical Debt 77
Auto Loan Delinquency 56
Credit Card Delinquency 72
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 65
Structural Poverty 55.5
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 70
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 72
Economic Vitality 35.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 14
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 74
House Price Change (YoY) 35
Housing Cost Burden 20.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 10
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 53
Legal Distress 10.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 10

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Sullivan County, MO 45.4 Normal —
Adair County, MO 48.5 Normal +3.0
Grundy County, MO 47.5 Normal +2.1
Linn County, MO 42.9 Normal -2.5
Putnam County, MO 39.8 Normal -5.6
Mercer County, MO 34.0 Healthy -11.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sullivan County
Deer Lodge County, MT 45.5 Normal +0.0
Baca County, CO 45.6 Normal +0.1
Harrison County, MO 45.6 Normal +0.2
Crockett County, TX 45.2 Normal -0.2
Blaine County, MT 45.1 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sullivan 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 Sullivan 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 Sullivan County, Missouri?

    Sullivan County has a County Distress Index score of 45.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,875th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 72nd in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sullivan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sullivan County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 61.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Sullivan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sullivan County (45.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Adair County, MO (48.5); Grundy County, MO (47.5); Linn County, MO (42.9).

  • 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 Normal 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). Sullivan County's score of 45.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Sullivan 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 Sullivan County?

    Sullivan County, Missouri has a population of approximately 5,797 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.