Webster County, Missouri

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.9 | 41,472 people · 74th most distressed in Missouri
American Default Research

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Webster County, MO falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.9 — 1903rd 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 74th of 115 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Webster County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 53.2 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 53.2
Debt in Collections 44
Medical Debt 36
Auto Loan Delinquency 53
Credit Card Delinquency 60
Uninsured Rate 83
Subprime Credit Population 57
Economic Vitality 52.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 76
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 38
House Price Change (YoY) 41
Structural Poverty 37.4
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 60
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Housing Cost Burden 33.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 32
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 62
Homeownership Rate 38
Legal Distress 31.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Webster County
Webster County, MO 44.9 Normal —
Dallas County, MO 57.8 Elevated +13.0
Greene County, MO 57.7 Elevated +12.8
Laclede County, MO 55.5 Elevated +10.6
Wright County, MO 53.9 Elevated +9.0
Douglas County, MO 52.8 Elevated +8.0
Christian County, MO 38.2 Normal -6.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Webster County
Venango County, PA 44.9 Normal +0.1
Llano County, TX 44.8 Normal -0.1
Preble County, OH 44.9 Normal +0.1
Cheatham County, TN 45.0 Normal +0.1
Benewah County, ID 44.7 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster County, Missouri?

    Webster County has a County Distress Index score of 44.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,903rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Missouri out of 115 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Webster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Webster County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 53.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Webster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Webster County (44.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Dallas County, MO (57.8); Greene County, MO (57.7); Laclede County, MO (55.5).

  • 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). Webster County's score of 44.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Webster 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 Webster County?

    Webster County, Missouri has a population of approximately 41,472 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.