Cascade County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 44.7 | 84,900 people · 13th most distressed in Montana
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Cascade County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 44.7 — 1914th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Montana, it ranks 13th of 56 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. Cascade County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 64.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 64.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 70
Rent-to-Income Ratio 72
Business Formation Rate 40
House Price Change (YoY) 61
Housing Cost Burden 60.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 60
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 70
Consumer Credit Distress 38.4
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 37
Subprime Credit Population 31
Structural Poverty 34.8
Unemployment Rate 49
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 28
Legal Distress 33.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Cascade County
Cascade County, MT 44.7 Normal —
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy -10.3
Chouteau County, MT 33.7 Healthy -11.0
Judith Basin County, MT 29.7 Healthy -15.0
Meagher County, MT 26.7 Healthy -18.0
Teton County, MT 25.5 Healthy -19.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Cascade County
Lincoln County, NC 44.7 Normal +0.0
Bay County, MI 44.7 Normal -0.0
Hancock County, OH 44.7 Normal -0.0
Champaign County, IL 44.6 Normal -0.1
Adams County, IL 44.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Cascade County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Cascade County.

MONTANA HOMEOWNERSHIP NETWORK DBA NEIGHBORWORKS MONTANA
Great Falls
406-604-4540 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingHome Improvement/RehabPost-Purchase
NEIGHBORWORKS GREAT FALLS
Great Falls
406-761-5861
Foreclosure PreventionMortgage HelpFinancial CounselingFair Housing
RURAL DYNAMICS, INC. DBA CCCS OF MT
Great Falls
406-454-5709
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingPost-PurchasePre-Purchase

See all counselors in Montana →

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Montana Lawyer Referral Service 406-442-7660

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Cascade County residents at no cost.

Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA) 1-800-666-6899

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 Montana →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Cascade County, Montana?

    Cascade County has a County Distress Index score of 44.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,914th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 13th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Cascade County?

    The primary driver of distress in Cascade County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 64.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Cascade County compare to neighboring counties?

    Cascade County (44.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lewis and Clark County, MT (34.4); Chouteau County, MT (33.7); Judith Basin County, MT (29.7).

  • 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). Cascade County's score of 44.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Cascade 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 Cascade County?

    Cascade County, Montana has a population of approximately 84,900 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.