Vernon County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Elevated · 53.1 | 19,710 people · 45th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Vernon County, MO registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 53.1 — 1389th 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 45th 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. Vernon County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 66.0 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 66.0
Debt in Collections 72
Medical Debt 75
Auto Loan Delinquency 38
Credit Card Delinquency 70
Uninsured Rate 90
Subprime Credit Population 65
Structural Poverty 65.6
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 72
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 66
Disability Rate 74
Transfer Income Dependency 83
Economic Vitality 37.8
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 38
Rent-to-Income Ratio 46
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 5
Housing Cost Burden 37.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 32
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 59
Legal Distress 15.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 15

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Vernon County
Vernon County, MO 53.1 Elevated —
Crawford County, KS 64.4 Elevated +11.3
Cedar County, MO 58.8 Elevated +5.6
Bates County, MO 58.2 Elevated +5.1
Bourbon County, KS 58.0 Elevated +4.9
St. Clair County, MO 56.3 Elevated +3.1
Barton County, MO 51.6 Elevated -1.5
Linn County, KS 50.9 Elevated -2.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Vernon County
Amelia County, VA 53.1 Elevated -0.0
Stone County, AR 53.1 Elevated -0.1
Marion County, IL 53.1 Elevated -0.1
McDowell County, NC 53.2 Elevated +0.1
Seneca County, NY 53.1 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Vernon 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 Vernon 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.

Need legal help? Find a foreclosure defense attorney in Missouri →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Vernon County, Missouri?

    Vernon County has a County Distress Index score of 53.1 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,389th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Vernon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Vernon County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 66.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Vernon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Vernon County (53.1) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Crawford County, KS (64.4); Cedar County, MO (58.8); Bates County, MO (58.2).

  • 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). Vernon County's score of 53.1 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Vernon 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 Vernon County?

    Vernon County, Missouri has a population of approximately 19,710 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.