Morrill County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 33.8 | 4,504 people · 32nd most distressed in Nebraska
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Morrill County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 33.8 — 2536th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Structural Poverty, where household incomes are relatively strong and poverty rates are low. Within Nebraska, it ranks 32nd of 93 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 6 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Morrill County's primary driver is Structural Poverty at 42.7 — above the national median.

Structural Poverty Primary driver 42.7
Unemployment Rate 27
Poverty Rate 58
Income vs. State Median 62
Child Poverty Rate 57
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 20
Housing Cost Burden 42.4
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 38
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 58
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 22
Homeownership Rate 29
Economic Vitality 32.7
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 40
Rent-to-Income Ratio 24
Business Formation Rate 41
House Price Change (YoY) 7
Legal Distress 30.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 31
Consumer Credit Distress 27.9
Debt in Collections 25
Medical Debt 63
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 18
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 34

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrill County
Morrill County, NE 33.8 Healthy —
Scotts Bluff County, NE 57.6 Elevated +23.8
Box Butte County, NE 44.1 Normal +10.3
Cheyenne County, NE 41.2 Normal +7.4
Garden County, NE 29.6 Healthy -4.2
Banner County, NE 29.4 Healthy -4.4
Sheridan County, NE 28.3 Healthy -5.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Morrill County
Sublette County, WY 33.8 Healthy +0.0
Rush County, KS 33.8 Healthy +0.1
Dolores County, CO 33.7 Healthy -0.1
Chouteau County, MT 33.7 Healthy -0.1
Grant County, ND 33.7 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Morrill 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 Morrill 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 Morrill County, Nebraska?

    Morrill County has a County Distress Index score of 33.8 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,536th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 32nd in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Morrill County?

    The primary driver of distress in Morrill County is Structural Poverty, where the county scores 42.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Unemployment Rate, Poverty Rate, Income vs. State Median.

  • How does Morrill County compare to neighboring counties?

    Morrill County (33.8) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Scotts Bluff County, NE (57.6); Box Butte County, NE (44.1); Cheyenne County, NE (41.2).

  • 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 Healthy 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). Morrill County's score of 33.8 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Morrill 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 Morrill County?

    Morrill County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 4,504 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.