Hitchcock County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.4 | 2,552 people · 22nd most distressed in Nebraska
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Hitchcock County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.4 — 2351st 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 22nd 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. Hitchcock County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 88.0 — worse than roughly 88% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 88.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 88
Structural Poverty 65.2
Unemployment Rate 23
Poverty Rate 56
Income vs. State Median 84
Child Poverty Rate 55
Disability Rate 75
Transfer Income Dependency 77
Economic Vitality 45.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 27
Rent-to-Income Ratio 47
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Consumer Credit Distress 26.3
Debt in Collections 18
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 42
Subprime Credit Population 42
Housing Cost Burden 23.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 13
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 40
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 6
Homeownership Rate 23

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Hitchcock County
Hitchcock County, NE 37.4 Normal —
Red Willow County, NE 46.3 Normal +9.0
Frontier County, NE 30.9 Healthy -6.5
Rawlins County, KS 28.3 Healthy -9.1
Hayes County, NE 28.0 Healthy -9.4
Dundy County, NE 21.8 Healthy -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Hitchcock County
Osborne County, KS 37.4 Normal +0.0
Clear Creek County, CO 37.5 Normal +0.1
Lincoln County, KS 37.2 Normal -0.2
Dawson County, MT 37.5 Normal +0.2
Tyler County, WV 37.6 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock County, Nebraska?

    Hitchcock County has a County Distress Index score of 37.4 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,351st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 22nd in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Hitchcock County?

    The primary driver of distress in Hitchcock County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 88.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Hitchcock County compare to neighboring counties?

    Hitchcock County (37.4) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Red Willow County, NE (46.3); Frontier County, NE (30.9); Rawlins County, KS (28.3).

  • 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). Hitchcock County's score of 37.4 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Hitchcock 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 Hitchcock County?

    Hitchcock County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 2,552 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.