Webster County, Nebraska

County Distress Index: Normal · 36.5 | 3,351 people · 26th most distressed in Nebraska
American Default Research

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Webster County, NE falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 36.5 — 2391st 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 26th of 93 counties. Among its 7 neighboring counties, 6 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Webster County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 93.0 — worse than roughly 93% of U.S. counties.

Legal Distress Primary driver 93.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 93
Economic Vitality 57.6
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 66
Rent-to-Income Ratio 42
Business Formation Rate 68
House Price Change (YoY) 44
Structural Poverty 42.6
Unemployment Rate 16
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 80
Child Poverty Rate 33
Disability Rate 19
Transfer Income Dependency 45
Consumer Credit Distress 29.1
Debt in Collections 31
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 22
Credit Card Delinquency 33
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 45
Housing Cost Burden 21.1
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 44
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 13

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Webster County
Webster County, NE 36.5 Normal —
Adams County, NE 45.9 Normal +9.4
Smith County, KS 33.3 Healthy -3.2
Jewell County, KS 28.4 Healthy -8.0
Franklin County, NE 27.9 Healthy -8.6
Kearney County, NE 25.6 Healthy -10.9
Nuckolls County, NE 25.1 Healthy -11.4
Clay County, NE 20.8 Healthy -15.7

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Webster County
Wheatland County, MT 36.5 Normal -0.0
Cloud County, KS 36.5 Normal -0.0
Grant County, KS 36.5 Normal +0.0
Wahkiakum County, WA 36.4 Normal -0.1
Audubon County, IA 36.6 Normal +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Webster 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 Webster 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 Webster County, Nebraska?

    Webster County has a County Distress Index score of 36.5 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,391st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 26th in Nebraska out of 93 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Webster County?

    The primary driver of distress in Webster County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 93.0 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Webster County compare to neighboring counties?

    Webster County (36.5) can be compared to its 7 neighboring counties: Adams County, NE (45.9); Smith County, KS (33.3); Jewell County, KS (28.4).

  • 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). Webster County's score of 36.5 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Webster 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 Webster County?

    Webster County, Nebraska has a population of approximately 3,351 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.