Lincoln County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 45.2 | 33,365 people · 11th most distressed in Nebraska
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Lincoln County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 45.2 — 1883rd 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 11th of 93 counties. It scores higher than all 8 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Lincoln County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 65.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 65.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 66
Housing Cost Burden 50.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 59
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 25
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 57
Homeownership Rate 86
Economic Vitality 46.5
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 38
Business Formation Rate 66
House Price Change (YoY) 53
Structural Poverty 41.7
Unemployment Rate 13
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 57
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 68
Transfer Income Dependency 32
Consumer Credit Distress 40.5
Debt in Collections 36
Medical Debt 37
Auto Loan Delinquency 49
Credit Card Delinquency 36
Uninsured Rate 47
Subprime Credit Population 41

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Lincoln County, NE 45.2 Normal —
Dawson County, NE 40.2 Normal -5.0
Keith County, NE 38.9 Normal -6.3
Logan County, NE 31.9 Healthy -13.3
Frontier County, NE 30.9 Healthy -14.4
McPherson County, NE 29.1 Healthy -16.1
Hayes County, NE 28.0 Healthy -17.3
Custer County, NE 27.2 Healthy -18.0
Perkins County, NE 23.3 Healthy -22.0

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Lincoln County
Perry County, MO 45.3 Normal +0.0
Smith County, TN 45.2 Normal -0.0
Logan County, OH 45.2 Normal -0.1
Chenango County, NY 45.3 Normal +0.1
Kittitas County, WA 45.3 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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 Lincoln County, Nebraska?

    Lincoln County has a County Distress Index score of 45.2 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 1,883rd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 11th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Lincoln County?

    The primary driver of distress in Lincoln County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 65.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Lincoln County compare to neighboring counties?

    Lincoln County (45.2) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Dawson County, NE (40.2); Keith County, NE (38.9); Logan County, NE (31.9).

  • 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). Lincoln County's score of 45.2 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?

    Lincoln County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 33,365 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.