Burt County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 28.3 | 6,727 people · 57th most distressed in Nebraska
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Burt County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 28.3 — 2836th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Nebraska, it ranks 57th of 93 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. Burt County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.4 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Economic Vitality 47.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 59
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 58
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Structural Poverty 39.5
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 23
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 20
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Housing Cost Burden 24.9
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 15
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 87
Homeownership Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 16.7
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 6
Uninsured Rate 53
Subprime Credit Population 30

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Burt County
Burt County, NE 28.3 Healthy —
Thurston County, NE 54.5 Elevated +26.2
Monona County, IA 41.3 Normal +13.0
Dodge County, NE 37.6 Normal +9.3
Harrison County, IA 37.1 Normal +8.8
Washington County, NE 25.0 Healthy -3.3
Cuming County, NE 19.4 Healthy -8.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Burt County
Sheridan County, NE 28.3 Healthy 0.0
Rawlins County, KS 28.3 Healthy -0.0
Haskell County, KS 28.4 Healthy +0.1
Clearwater County, MN 28.4 Healthy +0.1
Shelby County, MO 28.2 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Burt County

Find an Attorney

Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Nebraska State Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service 402-475-7091

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Burt County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Nebraska 1-877-250-2016

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Burt County, Nebraska?

    Burt County has a County Distress Index score of 28.3 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,836th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 57th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Burt County?

    The primary driver of distress in Burt County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Burt County compare to neighboring counties?

    Burt County (28.3) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Thurston County, NE (54.5); Monona County, IA (41.3); Dodge County, NE (37.6).

  • 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). Burt County's score of 28.3 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Burt 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 Burt County?

    Burt County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 6,727 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.