Hill County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 43.8 | 16,276 people · 14th most distressed in Montana
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Hill County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 43.8 — 1966th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages are low relative to housing costs, business formation lags, and the local economy lacks dynamism. Within Montana, it ranks 14th of 56 counties. Among its 3 neighboring counties, 2 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Hill County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 76.5 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 76.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 85
Rent-to-Income Ratio 95
Business Formation Rate 56
House Price Change (YoY) 14
Structural Poverty 54.5
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 82
Income vs. State Median 82
Child Poverty Rate 69
Disability Rate 14
Transfer Income Dependency 41
Consumer Credit Distress 42.5
Debt in Collections 49
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 43
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 54
Housing Cost Burden 38.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 19
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 36
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 80
Legal Distress 7.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 7

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hill County
Hill County, MT 43.8 Normal —
Blaine County, MT 45.1 Normal +1.3
Chouteau County, MT 33.7 Healthy -10.1
Liberty County, MT 29.6 Healthy -14.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hill County
Harris County, GA 43.9 Normal +0.0
Greene County, NY 43.8 Normal -0.1
Perry County, PA 43.9 Normal +0.1
Chippewa County, MI 43.7 Normal -0.1
Crook County, OR 44.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hill County

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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 Hill County residents at no cost.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Hill County has a County Distress Index score of 43.8 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,966th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 14th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hill County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hill County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 76.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Hill County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hill County (43.8) can be compared to its 3 neighboring counties: Blaine County, MT (45.1); Chouteau County, MT (33.7); Liberty County, MT (29.6).

  • 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). Hill County's score of 43.8 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hill 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 Hill County?

    Hill County, Montana has a population of approximately 16,276 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.