Kimball County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 47.2 | 3,289 people · 7th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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

Kimball County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 47.2 — 1769th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Nebraska, it ranks 7th of 93 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Kimball County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 60.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 60.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 61
Structural Poverty 51.9
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 40
Income vs. State Median 71
Child Poverty Rate 37
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 62
Consumer Credit Distress 46.2
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 47
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 85
Uninsured Rate 92
Subprime Credit Population 29
Housing Cost Burden 44.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 50
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 19
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 86
Homeownership Rate 63
Economic Vitality 41.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 30
Rent-to-Income Ratio 32
Business Formation Rate 83
House Price Change (YoY) 43

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Kimball County
Kimball County, NE 47.2 Normal —
Weld County, CO 50.4 Elevated +3.2
Laramie County, WY 49.0 Normal +1.8
Logan County, CO 44.4 Normal -2.8
Cheyenne County, NE 41.2 Normal -5.9
Banner County, NE 29.4 Healthy -17.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Kimball County
Roberts County, TX 47.3 Normal +0.1
Upton County, TX 47.3 Normal +0.2
Mineral County, CO 46.9 Normal -0.3
Goliad County, TX 46.9 Normal -0.3
Corson County, SD 46.9 Normal -0.3

Download Data

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

Find Help in Kimball 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 Kimball 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 Kimball County, Nebraska?

    Kimball County has a County Distress Index score of 47.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,769th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 7th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Kimball County?

    The primary driver of distress in Kimball County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 60.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Kimball County compare to neighboring counties?

    Kimball County (47.2) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Weld County, CO (50.4); Laramie County, WY (49.0); Logan County, CO (44.4).

  • 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). Kimball County's score of 47.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Kimball 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 Kimball County?

    Kimball County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 3,289 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.