Madison County, Montana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.5 | 9,521 people · 46th most distressed in Montana
American Default Research

Behind on your mortgage or facing eviction? Take a 2-minute assessment to see your options.

Madison County, MT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.5 — 2826th 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 46th of 56 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Madison County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 71.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 71.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 86
Rent-to-Income Ratio 81
Business Formation Rate 5
House Price Change (YoY) 95
Housing Cost Burden 27.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 76
Homeownership Rate 16
Legal Distress 27.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 28
Structural Poverty 26.6
Unemployment Rate 94
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 15
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 28
Transfer Income Dependency 13
Consumer Credit Distress 21.2
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 44
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 44
Subprime Credit Population 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Madison County, MT 28.5 Healthy —
Silver Bow County, MT 51.3 Elevated +22.9
Gallatin County, MT 36.3 Normal +7.9
Beaverhead County, MT 33.6 Healthy +5.2
Fremont County, ID 33.3 Healthy +4.8
Jefferson County, MT 16.5 Healthy -11.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Madison County
Jewell County, KS 28.4 Healthy -0.0
Blaine County, NE 28.4 Healthy -0.0
Clearwater County, MN 28.4 Healthy -0.0
Haskell County, KS 28.4 Healthy -0.1
Platte County, WY 28.6 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Madison 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 Madison 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 →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Madison County has a County Distress Index score of 28.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,826th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 46th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Madison County?

    The primary driver of distress in Madison County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 71.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Madison County compare to neighboring counties?

    Madison County (28.5) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Silver Bow County, MT (51.3); Gallatin County, MT (36.3); Beaverhead County, MT (33.6).

  • 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 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). Madison County's score of 28.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Madison 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 Madison County?

    Madison County, Montana has a population of approximately 9,521 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.