Liberty County, Montana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.6 | 1,974 people · 45th most distressed in Montana
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Liberty County, MT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.6 — 2776th 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 45th of 56 counties. It scores lower than all 4 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Liberty County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 68.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 68.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 80
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Structural Poverty 44.5
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 70
Income vs. State Median 44
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Housing Cost Burden 31.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 23
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 17
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 30
Homeownership Rate 86
Legal Distress 21.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 21
Consumer Credit Distress 18.3
Debt in Collections 6
Medical Debt 68
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 16
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Liberty County
Liberty County, MT 29.6 Healthy —
Hill County, MT 43.8 Normal +14.2
Toole County, MT 34.9 Healthy +5.2
Chouteau County, MT 33.7 Healthy +4.1
Pondera County, MT 33.5 Healthy +3.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Liberty County
Valley County, NE 29.6 Healthy 0.0
San Miguel County, CO 29.6 Healthy -0.0
Holt County, MO 29.6 Healthy -0.0
Garden County, NE 29.6 Healthy -0.1
Taylor County, IA 29.6 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Liberty County

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 Liberty 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 Liberty County, Montana?

    Liberty County has a County Distress Index score of 29.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,776th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 45th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Liberty County?

    The primary driver of distress in Liberty County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 68.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Liberty County compare to neighboring counties?

    Liberty County (29.6) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Hill County, MT (43.8); Toole County, MT (34.9); Chouteau County, MT (33.7).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Liberty County's score of 29.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Liberty 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 Liberty County?

    Liberty County, Montana has a population of approximately 1,974 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.