Silver Bow County, Montana

County Distress Index: Elevated · 51.3 | 36,360 people · 5th most distressed in Montana
American Default Research

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

Silver Bow County, MT registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 51.3 — 1495th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Montana, it ranks 5th of 56 counties. It scores higher 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. Silver Bow County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.9 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 64
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 85
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 67
Homeownership Rate 69
Economic Vitality 71.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 82
Rent-to-Income Ratio 94
Business Formation Rate 22
House Price Change (YoY) 49
Structural Poverty 53.1
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 67
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 38
Disability Rate 78
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Consumer Credit Distress 39.6
Debt in Collections 45
Medical Debt 42
Auto Loan Delinquency 21
Credit Card Delinquency 58
Uninsured Rate 36
Subprime Credit Population 35
Legal Distress 32.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 33

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Silver Bow County
Silver Bow County, MT 51.3 Elevated —
Deer Lodge County, MT 45.5 Normal -5.9
Beaverhead County, MT 33.6 Healthy -17.7
Madison County, MT 28.5 Healthy -22.9
Jefferson County, MT 16.5 Healthy -34.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Silver Bow County
Henry County, IN 51.4 Elevated +0.0
Noble County, OK 51.3 Elevated -0.0
Clinton County, PA 51.3 Elevated -0.0
Cowley County, KS 51.4 Elevated +0.1
Nicholas County, WV 51.3 Elevated -0.1

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Silver Bow County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Silver Bow County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Silver Bow County.

HEADWATERS RC&D AREA, INC.
Butte
406-533-6784
Post-PurchasePre-PurchaseHomebuyer Education

See all counselors in Montana →

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 Silver Bow 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 Silver Bow County, Montana?

    Silver Bow County has a County Distress Index score of 51.3 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,495th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Silver Bow County?

    The primary driver of distress in Silver Bow County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Silver Bow County compare to neighboring counties?

    Silver Bow County (51.3) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Deer Lodge County, MT (45.5); Beaverhead County, MT (33.6); Madison County, MT (28.5).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Silver Bow County's score of 51.3 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Silver Bow County's CDI score?

    Silver Bow 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 Silver Bow County?

    Silver Bow County, Montana has a population of approximately 36,360 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.