Sweet Grass County, Montana

County Distress Index: Healthy · 22.2 | 3,763 people · 52nd most distressed in Montana
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Sweet Grass County, MT ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 22.2 — 3028th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Montana, it ranks 52nd 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. Sweet Grass County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 25.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 25.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 26
Structural Poverty 25.3
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 21
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 16
Disability Rate 58
Transfer Income Dependency 27
Consumer Credit Distress 22.0
Debt in Collections 8
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 16
Credit Card Delinquency 11
Uninsured Rate 60
Subprime Credit Population 5
Housing Cost Burden 21.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 14
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 40
Economic Vitality 17.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 10
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sweet Grass County
Sweet Grass County, MT 22.2 Healthy —
Wheatland County, MT 36.5 Normal +14.3
Golden Valley County, MT 36.3 Normal +14.2
Park County, MT 35.9 Normal +13.7
Meagher County, MT 26.7 Healthy +4.6
Stillwater County, MT 17.4 Healthy -4.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sweet Grass County
Pepin County, WI 22.1 Healthy -0.1
Davis County, IA 22.3 Healthy +0.1
Slope County, ND 22.1 Healthy -0.1
Wells County, ND 22.0 Healthy -0.1
Yellow Medicine County, MN 22.0 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Sweet Grass County as a CSV file.

Find Help in Sweet Grass 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 Sweet Grass 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 Sweet Grass County, Montana?

    Sweet Grass County has a County Distress Index score of 22.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,028th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 52nd in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sweet Grass County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sweet Grass County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 25.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Sweet Grass County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sweet Grass County (22.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wheatland County, MT (36.5); Golden Valley County, MT (36.3); Park County, MT (35.9).

  • 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). Sweet Grass County's score of 22.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

  • What data sources power Sweet Grass County's CDI score?

    Sweet Grass 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 Sweet Grass County?

    Sweet Grass County, Montana has a population of approximately 3,763 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.