Sioux County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.4 | 1,154 people · 49th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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

Sioux County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.4 — 2739th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Economic Vitality, where employment and wage conditions show moderate stress. Within Nebraska, it ranks 49th of 93 counties. It scores lower than all 6 of its neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Sioux County's primary driver is Economic Vitality at 61.4 — above the national median.

Economic Vitality Primary driver 61.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 73
Rent-to-Income Ratio 26
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Legal Distress 44.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 44
Structural Poverty 40.0
Unemployment Rate 41
Poverty Rate 57
Income vs. State Median 65
Child Poverty Rate 63
Disability Rate 16
Transfer Income Dependency 5
Housing Cost Burden 24.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 54
Homeownership Rate 95
Consumer Credit Distress 22.3
Debt in Collections 17
Medical Debt 29
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 29
Uninsured Rate 58
Subprime Credit Population 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Sioux County
Sioux County, NE 30.4 Healthy —
Scotts Bluff County, NE 57.6 Elevated +27.2
Fall River County, SD 54.4 Elevated +24.0
Dawes County, NE 50.2 Elevated +19.8
Niobrara County, WY 48.1 Normal +17.7
Box Butte County, NE 44.1 Normal +13.7
Goshen County, WY 41.1 Normal +10.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Sioux County
Washakie County, WY 30.4 Healthy 0.0
Pratt County, KS 30.4 Healthy -0.0
Ouray County, CO 30.4 Healthy +0.0
Bear Lake County, ID 30.3 Healthy -0.1
Brown County, KS 30.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Sioux 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 Sioux 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 Sioux County, Nebraska?

    Sioux County has a County Distress Index score of 30.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,739th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 49th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Sioux County?

    The primary driver of distress in Sioux County is Economic Vitality, where the county scores 61.4 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Wage-to-Rent Ratio, Rent-to-Income Ratio, Business Formation Rate.

  • How does Sioux County compare to neighboring counties?

    Sioux County (30.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Scotts Bluff County, NE (57.6); Fall River County, SD (54.4); Dawes County, NE (50.2).

  • 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). Sioux County's score of 30.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Sioux 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 Sioux County?

    Sioux County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 1,154 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.