Gage County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.5 | 21,634 people · 21st most distressed in Nebraska
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Gage County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.5 — 2341st 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 21st of 93 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Gage County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 90.0 — worse than roughly 90% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 90.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 90
Economic Vitality 37.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 37
Rent-to-Income Ratio 13
Business Formation Rate 90
House Price Change (YoY) 13
Housing Cost Burden 35.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 31
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 27
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 40
Homeownership Rate 61
Structural Poverty 32.9
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 23
Income vs. State Median 43
Child Poverty Rate 17
Disability Rate 57
Transfer Income Dependency 29
Consumer Credit Distress 31.9
Debt in Collections 28
Medical Debt 18
Auto Loan Delinquency 34
Credit Card Delinquency 55
Uninsured Rate 20
Subprime Credit Population 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gage County
Gage County, NE 37.5 Normal —
Johnson County, NE 46.3 Normal +8.8
Lancaster County, NE 39.7 Normal +2.1
Marshall County, KS 39.1 Normal +1.6
Jefferson County, NE 38.1 Normal +0.6
Pawnee County, NE 35.8 Normal -1.7
Saline County, NE 34.9 Healthy -2.6
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -11.3
Washington County, KS 21.3 Healthy -16.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gage County
Douglas County, WI 37.5 Normal +0.0
Houghton County, MI 37.5 Normal -0.0
Hardin County, IA 37.6 Normal +0.1
Dodge County, NE 37.6 Normal +0.1
Fayette County, IA 37.4 Normal -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gage 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 Gage 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 Gage County, Nebraska?

    Gage County has a County Distress Index score of 37.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,341st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gage County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gage County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 90.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gage County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gage County (37.5) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Johnson County, NE (46.3); Lancaster County, NE (39.7); Marshall County, KS (39.1).

  • 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). Gage County's score of 37.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Gage 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 Gage County?

    Gage County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 21,634 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.