Douglas County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 48.7 | 589,540 people · 6th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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Douglas County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 48.7 — 1663rd 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 6th of 93 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Douglas County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 82.5 — worse than roughly 83% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 82.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 83
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 77
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 91
Homeownership Rate 91
Legal Distress 60.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Economic Vitality 43.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 50
Business Formation Rate 24
House Price Change (YoY) 68
Consumer Credit Distress 40.9
Debt in Collections 40
Medical Debt 29
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 38
Uninsured Rate 55
Subprime Credit Population 44
Structural Poverty 17.5
Unemployment Rate 30
Poverty Rate 33
Income vs. State Median 18
Child Poverty Rate 21
Disability Rate 8
Transfer Income Dependency 3

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Douglas County, NE 48.7 Normal —
Pottawattamie County, IA 51.5 Elevated +2.8
Dodge County, NE 37.6 Normal -11.1
Sarpy County, NE 32.1 Healthy -16.6
Washington County, NE 25.0 Healthy -23.7
Saunders County, NE 20.8 Healthy -27.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Douglas County
Worcester County, MA 48.9 Normal +0.1
Santa Barbara County, CA 48.5 Normal -0.2
Prince William County, VA 48.5 Normal -0.2
St. Louis County, MO 49.0 Normal +0.2
Burlington County, NJ 49.4 Normal +0.6

Download Data

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

Find Help in Douglas County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Douglas County.

CREDIT ADVISORS FOUNDATION
OMAHA
877-677-5779 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFinancial CounselingFair Housing
CREDIT ADVISORS FOUNDATION
Omaha
800-766-3328 Website
Foreclosure PreventionFinancial CounselingFair HousingHome Improvement/Rehab
FAMILY HOUSING ADVISORY SERVICES, INC.
Omaha
402-934-6741
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 Douglas 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 Douglas County, Nebraska?

    Douglas County has a County Distress Index score of 48.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,663rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 6th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Douglas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Douglas County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 82.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Douglas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Douglas County (48.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Pottawattamie County, IA (51.5); Dodge County, NE (37.6); Sarpy County, NE (32.1).

  • 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 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). Douglas County's score of 48.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Douglas 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 Douglas County?

    Douglas County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 589,540 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.