Lancaster County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 39.7 | 326,716 people · 17th most distressed in Nebraska
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Lancaster County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 39.7 — 2212th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Nebraska, it ranks 17th of 93 counties. Among its 8 neighboring counties, 7 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lancaster County's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 76.7 — worse than roughly 77% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 76.7
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 73
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 71
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 94
Legal Distress 56.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 56
Economic Vitality 35.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 32
Rent-to-Income Ratio 31
Business Formation Rate 47
House Price Change (YoY) 52
Consumer Credit Distress 26.9
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 26
Auto Loan Delinquency 29
Credit Card Delinquency 23
Uninsured Rate 32
Subprime Credit Population 29
Structural Poverty 17.5
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 27
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 8
Disability Rate 15
Transfer Income Dependency 8

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
Lancaster County, NE 39.7 Normal —
Johnson County, NE 46.3 Normal +6.6
Gage County, NE 37.5 Normal -2.1
Saline County, NE 34.9 Healthy -4.8
Cass County, NE 27.3 Healthy -12.3
Butler County, NE 26.8 Healthy -12.8
Otoe County, NE 26.2 Healthy -13.4
Seward County, NE 26.2 Healthy -13.5
Saunders County, NE 20.8 Healthy -18.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lancaster County
Washington County, OR 39.6 Normal -0.1
Monmouth County, NJ 39.3 Normal -0.4
South Central Connecticut Planning Region, CT 40.1 Normal +0.5
Union County, NC 39.1 Normal -0.5
Sonoma County, CA 40.2 Normal +0.5

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lancaster County

HUD-Approved Housing Counselors

Free foreclosure prevention and financial counseling near Lancaster County.

NEIGHBORHOODS, INC. DBA NEIGHBORWORKS LINCOLN
Lincoln
402-477-7181 Website
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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 Lancaster 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 Lancaster County, Nebraska?

    Lancaster County has a County Distress Index score of 39.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,212th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 17th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lancaster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lancaster County is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 76.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Lancaster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lancaster County (39.7) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Johnson County, NE (46.3); Gage County, NE (37.5); Saline County, NE (34.9).

  • 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). Lancaster County's score of 39.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lancaster 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 Lancaster County?

    Lancaster County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 326,716 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a large county.