Warren County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.4 | 37,806 people · 61st most distressed in Missouri
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Warren County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.4 — 1752nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Missouri, it ranks 61st of 115 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Warren County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 64.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 64.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 65
Housing Cost Burden 50.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 71
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 41
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 78
Homeownership Rate 9
Economic Vitality 50.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 75
Rent-to-Income Ratio 28
Business Formation Rate 32
House Price Change (YoY) 28
Consumer Credit Distress 50.3
Debt in Collections 43
Medical Debt 62
Auto Loan Delinquency 55
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 51
Subprime Credit Population 51
Structural Poverty 20.4
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 10
Income vs. State Median 8
Child Poverty Rate 14
Disability Rate 37
Transfer Income Dependency 31

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Warren County
Warren County, MO 47.4 Normal —
Lincoln County, MO 47.1 Normal -0.3
Montgomery County, MO 44.7 Normal -2.7
Franklin County, MO 44.2 Normal -3.2
Gasconade County, MO 42.1 Normal -5.3
St. Charles County, MO 30.1 Healthy -17.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Warren County
Sweetwater County, WY 47.5 Normal +0.1
Gratiot County, MI 47.5 Normal +0.1
Noble County, IN 47.3 Normal -0.1
Adams County, WI 47.3 Normal -0.1
Braxton County, WV 47.2 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Warren 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 Warren 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 Warren County, Missouri?

    Warren County has a County Distress Index score of 47.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,752nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 61st in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Warren County?

    The primary driver of distress in Warren County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 64.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Warren County compare to neighboring counties?

    Warren County (47.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, MO (47.1); Montgomery County, MO (44.7); Franklin County, MO (44.2).

  • 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 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). Warren County's score of 47.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Warren 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 Warren County?

    Warren County, Missouri has a population of approximately 37,806 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.