Sheridan County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 42.5 | 3,498 people · 16th most distressed in Montana
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Sheridan County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 42.5 — 2035th 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 16th of 56 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sheridan County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 68.2 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 68.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 80
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 72
Housing Cost Burden 52.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 75
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 47
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 17
Homeownership Rate 38
Structural Poverty 43.5
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 49
Transfer Income Dependency 51
Consumer Credit Distress 34.7
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 48
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 45
Uninsured Rate 62
Subprime Credit Population 41
Legal Distress 28.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sheridan County
Sheridan County, MT 42.5 Normal —
Roosevelt County, MT 59.1 Elevated +16.5
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal -0.5
Divide County, ND 24.3 Healthy -18.3
Daniels County, MT 20.9 Healthy -21.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sheridan County
Surry County, VA 42.6 Normal +0.1
Wheeler County, OR 42.5 Normal -0.1
Craig County, VA 42.7 Normal +0.1
Ziebach County, SD 42.8 Normal +0.2
Yoakum County, TX 42.8 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sheridan 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 Sheridan 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 Sheridan County, Montana?

    Sheridan County has a County Distress Index score of 42.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,035th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sheridan County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sheridan County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 68.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Sheridan County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sheridan County (42.5) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Roosevelt County, MT (59.1); Williams County, ND (42.1); Divide County, ND (24.3).

  • 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). Sheridan County's score of 42.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Sheridan 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 Sheridan County?

    Sheridan County, Montana has a population of approximately 3,498 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.