Mineral County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.7 | 5,090 people · 9th most distressed in Montana
American Default Research

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

Mineral County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.7 — 1732nd 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 9th of 56 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 4 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Mineral County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 73.5 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 73.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 94
Rent-to-Income Ratio 91
Business Formation Rate 23
House Price Change (YoY) 11
Structural Poverty 65.2
Unemployment Rate 88
Poverty Rate 48
Income vs. State Median 53
Child Poverty Rate 52
Disability Rate 69
Transfer Income Dependency 80
Housing Cost Burden 62.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 86
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 56
Homeownership Rate 18
Consumer Credit Distress 37.3
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 46
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 44
Uninsured Rate 52
Subprime Credit Population 29
Legal Distress 5.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Mineral County
Mineral County, MT 47.7 Normal —
Shoshone County, ID 56.8 Elevated +9.1
Sanders County, MT 50.1 Elevated +2.5
Clearwater County, ID 40.5 Normal -7.1
Missoula County, MT 40.5 Normal -7.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Mineral County
Alfalfa County, OK 47.6 Normal -0.0
Cameron County, PA 47.6 Normal -0.1
Concho County, TX 47.6 Normal -0.1
Hemphill County, TX 47.5 Normal -0.1
Saguache County, CO 47.9 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Mineral 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 Mineral 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 Mineral County, Montana?

    Mineral County has a County Distress Index score of 47.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,732nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Mineral County?

    The primary driver of distress in Mineral County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 73.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Mineral County compare to neighboring counties?

    Mineral County (47.7) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Shoshone County, ID (56.8); Sanders County, MT (50.1); Clearwater County, ID (40.5).

  • 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). Mineral County's score of 47.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Mineral 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 Mineral County?

    Mineral County, Montana has a population of approximately 5,090 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.