Valley County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.6 | 4,012 people · 50th most distressed in Nebraska
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Valley County, NE ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.6 — 2777th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Nebraska, it ranks 50th of 93 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 3 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Valley County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 59.7 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 59.7
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 60
Economic Vitality 49.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 52
Rent-to-Income Ratio 43
Business Formation Rate 54
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Structural Poverty 46.7
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 37
Income vs. State Median 81
Child Poverty Rate 40
Disability Rate 73
Transfer Income Dependency 30
Consumer Credit Distress 23.9
Debt in Collections 15
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 22
Uninsured Rate 29
Subprime Credit Population 30
Housing Cost Burden 13.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 8
Homeownership Rate 57

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Valley County
Valley County, NE 29.6 Healthy —
Garfield County, NE 35.6 Normal +6.0
Sherman County, NE 31.7 Healthy +2.1
Wheeler County, NE 27.3 Healthy -2.4
Custer County, NE 27.2 Healthy -2.4
Greeley County, NE 21.2 Healthy -8.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Valley County
Liberty County, MT 29.6 Healthy 0.0
San Miguel County, CO 29.6 Healthy -0.0
Holt County, MO 29.6 Healthy -0.0
Garden County, NE 29.6 Healthy -0.1
Taylor County, IA 29.6 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Valley 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 Valley 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.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Valley County, Nebraska?

    Valley County has a County Distress Index score of 29.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,777th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 50th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Valley County?

    The primary driver of distress in Valley County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 59.7 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Valley County compare to neighboring counties?

    Valley County (29.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Garfield County, NE (35.6); Sherman County, NE (31.7); Wheeler County, NE (27.3).

  • 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). Valley County's score of 29.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Valley 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 Valley County?

    Valley County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 4,012 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.