Dixon County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.7 | 5,491 people · 87th most distressed in Nebraska
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Dixon County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.7 — 3060th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Nebraska, it ranks 87th of 93 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Dixon County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 40.8 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 40.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Structural Poverty 19.9
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 41
Child Poverty Rate 10
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Housing Cost Burden 19.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 26
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 9
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 9
Homeownership Rate 34
Consumer Credit Distress 18.9
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 43
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 31
Uninsured Rate 57
Subprime Credit Population 5
Economic Vitality 18.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 19
Rent-to-Income Ratio 12
Business Formation Rate 33
House Price Change (YoY) 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Dixon County
Dixon County, NE 20.7 Healthy —
Thurston County, NE 54.5 Elevated +33.8
Dakota County, NE 48.8 Normal +28.1
Clay County, SD 33.1 Healthy +12.5
Wayne County, NE 31.6 Healthy +10.9
Union County, SD 21.9 Healthy +1.3
Cedar County, NE 17.3 Healthy -3.4

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Dixon County
Jasper County, IL 20.7 Healthy +0.1
Clay County, NE 20.8 Healthy +0.1
Ransom County, ND 20.8 Healthy +0.1
McPherson County, SD 20.5 Healthy -0.1
Marshall County, SD 20.5 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Dixon 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 Dixon 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 Dixon County, Nebraska?

    Dixon County has a County Distress Index score of 20.7 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,060th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 87th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Dixon County?

    The primary driver of distress in Dixon County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 40.8 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Dixon County compare to neighboring counties?

    Dixon County (20.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Thurston County, NE (54.5); Dakota County, NE (48.8); Clay County, SD (33.1).

  • 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). Dixon County's score of 20.7 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Dixon 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 Dixon County?

    Dixon County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 5,491 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.