Furnas County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 40.2 | 4,556 people · 16th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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

Furnas County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 40.2 — 2182nd 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 16th of 93 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Furnas County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 68.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 68.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 69
Structural Poverty 55.6
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 38
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 41
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 74
Housing Cost Burden 42.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 27
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 53
Homeownership Rate 36
Economic Vitality 37.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 41
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 30
House Price Change (YoY) 45
Consumer Credit Distress 30.8
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 20
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 79
Uninsured Rate 34
Subprime Credit Population 14

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Furnas County
Furnas County, NE 40.2 Normal —
Red Willow County, NE 46.3 Normal +6.1
Norton County, KS 40.9 Normal +0.7
Decatur County, KS 35.9 Normal -4.3
Frontier County, NE 30.9 Healthy -9.4
Phelps County, NE 28.9 Healthy -11.3
Gosper County, NE 26.3 Healthy -14.0
Harlan County, NE 24.7 Healthy -15.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Furnas County
Cameron Parish, LA 40.2 Normal -0.0
Monroe County, MO 40.3 Normal +0.0
Ballard County, KY 40.1 Normal -0.1
Mason County, TX 40.1 Normal -0.1
Lexington city, VA 40.4 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Furnas 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 Furnas 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 Furnas County, Nebraska?

    Furnas County has a County Distress Index score of 40.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,182nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 16th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Furnas County?

    The primary driver of distress in Furnas County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 68.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Furnas County compare to neighboring counties?

    Furnas County (40.2) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Red Willow County, NE (46.3); Norton County, KS (40.9); Decatur County, KS (35.9).

  • 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). Furnas County's score of 40.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Furnas 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 Furnas County?

    Furnas County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 4,556 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.