Keith County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 38.9 | 8,113 people · 18th most distressed in Nebraska
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Keith County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 38.9 — 2263rd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Nebraska, it ranks 18th of 93 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 5 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Keith County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 49.3 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 49.3
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 48
Rent-to-Income Ratio 41
Business Formation Rate 44
House Price Change (YoY) 91
Legal Distress 48.4
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 48
Structural Poverty 45.5
Unemployment Rate 10
Poverty Rate 31
Income vs. State Median 79
Child Poverty Rate 47
Disability Rate 42
Transfer Income Dependency 44
Housing Cost Burden 39.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 30
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 68
Homeownership Rate 67
Consumer Credit Distress 33.1
Debt in Collections 33
Medical Debt 56
Auto Loan Delinquency 7
Credit Card Delinquency 48
Uninsured Rate 39
Subprime Credit Population 27

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Keith County
Keith County, NE 38.9 Normal —
Lincoln County, NE 45.2 Normal +6.3
Deuel County, NE 32.1 Healthy -6.8
Arthur County, NE 31.4 Healthy -7.5
Garden County, NE 29.6 Healthy -9.3
McPherson County, NE 29.1 Healthy -9.8
Perkins County, NE 23.3 Healthy -15.6

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Keith County
Clay County, KS 38.9 Normal -0.0
Maries County, MO 38.9 Normal +0.0
Harper County, KS 39.0 Normal +0.1
Aleutians East Borough, AK 38.8 Normal -0.1
Sherman County, TX 39.0 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Keith County

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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

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Legal aid organizations serving Keith 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 Keith County, Nebraska?

    Keith County has a County Distress Index score of 38.9 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,263rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Keith County?

    The primary driver of distress in Keith County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 49.3 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Keith County compare to neighboring counties?

    Keith County (38.9) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Lincoln County, NE (45.2); Deuel County, NE (32.1); Arthur County, NE (31.4).

  • 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). Keith County's score of 38.9 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Keith 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 Keith County?

    Keith County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 8,113 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.