Pierce County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 24.5 | 7,299 people · 80th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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

Pierce County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 24.5 — 2979th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within Nebraska, it ranks 80th of 93 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Pierce County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 40.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 40.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 41
Economic Vitality 35.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 43
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 37
House Price Change (YoY) 86
Consumer Credit Distress 25.4
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 67
Auto Loan Delinquency 5
Credit Card Delinquency 49
Uninsured Rate 31
Subprime Credit Population 5
Housing Cost Burden 21.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 25
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 13
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 29
Homeownership Rate 26
Structural Poverty 10.5
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 14
Income vs. State Median 17
Child Poverty Rate 11
Disability Rate 9
Transfer Income Dependency 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Pierce County
Pierce County, NE 24.5 Healthy —
Stanton County, NE 36.9 Normal +12.4
Madison County, NE 34.8 Healthy +10.3
Wayne County, NE 31.6 Healthy +7.1
Antelope County, NE 25.8 Healthy +1.3
Knox County, NE 23.3 Healthy -1.2
Cedar County, NE 17.3 Healthy -7.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Pierce County
Oneida County, ID 24.5 Healthy +0.0
Cook County, MN 24.5 Healthy +0.0
Miner County, SD 24.5 Healthy +0.0
Florence County, WI 24.4 Healthy -0.0
Kingsbury County, SD 24.6 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce County, Nebraska?

    Pierce County has a County Distress Index score of 24.5 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,979th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 80th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Pierce County?

    The primary driver of distress in Pierce County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 40.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Pierce County compare to neighboring counties?

    Pierce County (24.5) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Stanton County, NE (36.9); Madison County, NE (34.8); Wayne County, NE (31.6).

  • 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). Pierce County's score of 24.5 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Pierce 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 Pierce County?

    Pierce County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 7,299 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.