Richland County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 35.6 | 11,173 people · 28th most distressed in Montana
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Richland County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 35.6 — 2442nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Montana, it ranks 28th of 56 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Richland County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 44.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 44.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 45
Consumer Credit Distress 44.6
Debt in Collections 54
Medical Debt 80
Auto Loan Delinquency 47
Credit Card Delinquency 17
Uninsured Rate 30
Subprime Credit Population 38
Economic Vitality 40.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 50
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 14
House Price Change (YoY) 17
Housing Cost Burden 25.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 19
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 7
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 44
Homeownership Rate 71
Structural Poverty 12.6
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 16
Income vs. State Median 14
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 6

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland County
Richland County, MT 35.6 Normal —
Roosevelt County, MT 59.1 Elevated +23.4
McKenzie County, ND 43.5 Normal +7.8
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal +6.4
Dawson County, MT 37.5 Normal +1.9
Wibaux County, MT 33.1 Healthy -2.6
McCone County, MT 26.7 Healthy -9.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Richland County
Payette County, ID 35.6 Normal -0.0
Juniata County, PA 35.6 Normal -0.0
Gillespie County, TX 35.6 Normal -0.1
Ottawa County, OH 35.8 Normal +0.1
Waushara County, WI 35.8 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Richland 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 Richland 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 Richland County, Montana?

    Richland County has a County Distress Index score of 35.6 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,442nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 28th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Richland County?

    The primary driver of distress in Richland County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 44.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Richland County compare to neighboring counties?

    Richland County (35.6) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Roosevelt County, MT (59.1); McKenzie County, ND (43.5); Williams County, ND (42.1).

  • 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). Richland County's score of 35.6 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Richland 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 Richland County?

    Richland County, Montana has a population of approximately 11,173 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.