Johnson County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 46.3 | 5,198 people · 9th most distressed in Nebraska
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Johnson County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 46.3 — 1827th 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 9th of 93 counties. It scores higher than all 5 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Johnson County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 85.2 — worse than roughly 85% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 85.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 85
Consumer Credit Distress 51.6
Debt in Collections 38
Medical Debt 38
Auto Loan Delinquency 94
Credit Card Delinquency 65
Uninsured Rate 18
Subprime Credit Population 42
Structural Poverty 47.9
Unemployment Rate 55
Poverty Rate 45
Income vs. State Median 55
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 71
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Economic Vitality 30.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 18
Rent-to-Income Ratio 22
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Housing Cost Burden 27.6
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 20
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 11
Homeownership Rate 76

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Johnson County
Johnson County, NE 46.3 Normal —
Lancaster County, NE 39.7 Normal -6.6
Gage County, NE 37.5 Normal -8.8
Pawnee County, NE 35.8 Normal -10.5
Nemaha County, NE 34.3 Healthy -11.9
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -20.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Johnson County
Lincoln County, NV 46.2 Normal -0.0
Pickett County, TN 46.4 Normal +0.1
Conejos County, CO 46.4 Normal +0.1
Comanche County, KS 46.1 Normal -0.2
Kimble County, TX 46.4 Normal +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Johnson 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 Johnson 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 Johnson County, Nebraska?

    Johnson County has a County Distress Index score of 46.3 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,827th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 9th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Johnson County?

    The primary driver of distress in Johnson County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 85.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Johnson County compare to neighboring counties?

    Johnson County (46.3) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lancaster County, NE (39.7); Gage County, NE (37.5); Pawnee County, NE (35.8).

  • 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). Johnson County's score of 46.3 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Johnson 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 Johnson County?

    Johnson County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 5,198 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.