Flathead County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.3 | 113,679 people · 19th most distressed in Montana
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Flathead County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.3 — 2293rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Montana, it ranks 19th of 56 counties. Among its 9 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Flathead County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 79.3 — worse than roughly 79% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 79.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 79
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 52
Economic Vitality 73.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 91
Rent-to-Income Ratio 90
Business Formation Rate 1
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Consumer Credit Distress 21.4
Debt in Collections 11
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 11
Credit Card Delinquency 26
Uninsured Rate 59
Subprime Credit Population 17
Structural Poverty 20.0
Unemployment Rate 61
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 10
Disability Rate 13
Transfer Income Dependency 14
Legal Distress 13.3
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Flathead County
Flathead County, MT 38.3 Normal —
Glacier County, MT 66.2 Serious +27.9
Sanders County, MT 50.1 Elevated +11.9
Lincoln County, MT 42.8 Normal +4.5
Missoula County, MT 40.5 Normal +2.2
Lake County, MT 39.4 Normal +1.1
Lewis and Clark County, MT 34.4 Healthy -3.9
Pondera County, MT 33.5 Healthy -4.8
Powell County, MT 32.9 Healthy -5.4
Teton County, MT 25.5 Healthy -12.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Flathead County
Garfield County, CO 38.3 Normal -0.0
Darke County, OH 38.3 Normal +0.0
Chisago County, MN 38.2 Normal -0.1
Walworth County, WI 38.2 Normal -0.1
Columbia County, NY 38.4 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Flathead County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Flathead County.

NORTH WEST MONTANA HUMAN RESOURCES DBA COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP OF NW MONTANA
Kalispell
406-205-7971 Website
Financial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab

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 Flathead 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Flathead County has a County Distress Index score of 38.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,293rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 19th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Flathead County?

    The primary driver of distress in Flathead County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 79.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Flathead County compare to neighboring counties?

    Flathead County (38.3) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Glacier County, MT (66.2); Sanders County, MT (50.1); Lincoln County, MT (42.8).

  • 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). Flathead County's score of 38.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Flathead 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 Flathead County?

    Flathead County, Montana has a population of approximately 113,679 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.