Custer County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 27.2 | 10,581 people · 64th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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

Custer County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 27.2 — 2882nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where wages keep pace with costs, business formation is healthy, and the local economy shows resilience. Within Nebraska, it ranks 64th of 93 counties. It scores lower than all 9 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Custer County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 33.0 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 33.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 17
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 22
Housing Cost Burden 31.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 18
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 26
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 42
Homeownership Rate 67
Structural Poverty 31.3
Unemployment Rate 8
Poverty Rate 12
Income vs. State Median 50
Child Poverty Rate 24
Disability Rate 41
Transfer Income Dependency 37
Consumer Credit Distress 23.7
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 28
Auto Loan Delinquency 36
Credit Card Delinquency 40
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 9
Legal Distress 22.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Custer County
Custer County, NE 27.2 Healthy —
Lincoln County, NE 45.2 Normal +18.0
Dawson County, NE 40.2 Normal +13.0
Buffalo County, NE 37.3 Normal +10.1
Garfield County, NE 35.6 Normal +8.4
Logan County, NE 31.9 Healthy +4.7
Sherman County, NE 31.7 Healthy +4.5
Loup County, NE 30.6 Healthy +3.3
Valley County, NE 29.6 Healthy +2.4
Blaine County, NE 28.4 Healthy +1.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Custer County
Jefferson County, WA 27.2 Healthy +0.0
Watonwan County, MN 27.2 Healthy -0.0
Fillmore County, MN 27.2 Healthy -0.1
Jo Daviess County, IL 27.3 Healthy +0.1
Davison County, SD 27.3 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Custer 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 Custer County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid of Nebraska 1-877-250-2016

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 Nebraska →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Custer County has a County Distress Index score of 27.2 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,882nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 64th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Custer County?

    The primary driver of distress in Custer County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 33.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Custer County compare to neighboring counties?

    Custer County (27.2) can be compared to its 9 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, NE (45.2); Dawson County, NE (40.2); Buffalo County, NE (37.3).

  • 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 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). Custer County's score of 27.2 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Custer 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 Custer County?

    Custer County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 10,581 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.