Yellowstone County, Montana

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.7 | 170,843 people · 10th most distressed in Montana
American Default Research

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Yellowstone County, MT falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.7 — 1802nd 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 10th of 56 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Yellowstone County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 72.8 — above the national median.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 72.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 81
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 60
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 73
Economic Vitality 59.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 75
Business Formation Rate 7
House Price Change (YoY) 79
Consumer Credit Distress 41.9
Debt in Collections 42
Medical Debt 70
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 33
Legal Distress 30.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 30
Structural Poverty 20.7
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 20
Income vs. State Median 19
Child Poverty Rate 12
Disability Rate 32
Transfer Income Dependency 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Yellowstone County
Yellowstone County, MT 46.7 Normal —
Big Horn County, MT 60.3 Elevated +13.7
Rosebud County, MT 53.9 Elevated +7.3
Musselshell County, MT 51.2 Elevated +4.5
Golden Valley County, MT 36.3 Normal -10.3
Carbon County, MT 30.0 Healthy -16.6
Treasure County, MT 29.9 Healthy -16.8
Stillwater County, MT 17.4 Healthy -29.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Yellowstone County
Johnson County, IN 46.7 Normal +0.0
Sandusky County, OH 46.7 Normal +0.0
Brunswick County, NC 46.7 Normal +0.1
Shelby County, AL 46.6 Normal -0.1
Beaver County, PA 46.5 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Yellowstone County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Yellowstone County.

DISTRICT 7 HUMAN RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL
Billings
406-206-2717
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingPost-Purchase

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 Yellowstone 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Yellowstone County, Montana?

    Yellowstone County has a County Distress Index score of 46.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,802nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 10th in Montana out of 56 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Yellowstone County?

    The primary driver of distress in Yellowstone County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 72.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Yellowstone County compare to neighboring counties?

    Yellowstone County (46.7) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Big Horn County, MT (60.3); Rosebud County, MT (53.9); Musselshell County, MT (51.2).

  • 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). Yellowstone County's score of 46.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Yellowstone 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 Yellowstone County?

    Yellowstone County, Montana has a population of approximately 170,843 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.