Dawes County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Elevated · 50.2 | 8,133 people · 4th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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Dawes County, NE registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 50.2 — 1562nd 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 Nebraska, it ranks 4th of 93 counties. Among its 4 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dawes County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 84.0 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 84.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 72
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 95
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 88
Homeownership Rate 83
Economic Vitality 69.2
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 79
Rent-to-Income Ratio 63
Business Formation Rate 76
House Price Change (YoY) 25
Structural Poverty 54.0
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 65
Income vs. State Median 85
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 34
Transfer Income Dependency 49
Consumer Credit Distress 36.7
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 32
Auto Loan Delinquency 63
Credit Card Delinquency 32
Uninsured Rate 66
Subprime Credit Population 31
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dawes County
Dawes County, NE 50.2 Elevated —
Fall River County, SD 54.4 Elevated +4.2
Box Butte County, NE 44.1 Normal -6.2
Sioux County, NE 30.4 Healthy -19.8
Sheridan County, NE 28.3 Healthy -21.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dawes County
Sioux County, ND 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Eureka County, NV 50.1 Elevated -0.1
Woods County, OK 50.4 Elevated +0.2
Luce County, MI 50.4 Elevated +0.2
Coal County, OK 50.0 Elevated -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dawes County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Dawes County.

HIGH PLAINS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
Chadron
308-432-4346
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing

See all counselors in Nebraska →

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 Dawes 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 →

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Dawes County has a County Distress Index score of 50.2 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 1,562nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 4th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dawes County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dawes County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 84.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Dawes County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dawes County (50.2) can be compared to its 4 neighboring counties: Fall River County, SD (54.4); Box Butte County, NE (44.1); Sioux County, NE (30.4).

  • 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). Dawes County's score of 50.2 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

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

    Dawes 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 Dawes County?

    Dawes County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 8,133 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.