Carson City, Nevada

County Distress Index: Elevated · 61.7 | 58,036 people · 5th most distressed in Nevada
American Default Research

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Carson City, NV registers elevated household financial distress with a score of 61.7 — 842nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Housing Cost Burden, where a large share of households spend more than 30% of income on housing. Within Nevada, it ranks 5th of 17 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Carson City's primary driver is Housing Cost Burden at 83.5 — worse than roughly 84% of U.S. counties.

Housing Cost Burden Primary driver 83.5
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 88
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 78
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 81
Homeownership Rate 88
Legal Distress 63.8
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 64
Economic Vitality 61.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 64
Rent-to-Income Ratio 82
Business Formation Rate 8
House Price Change (YoY) 86
Consumer Credit Distress 56.7
Debt in Collections 68
Medical Debt 99
Auto Loan Delinquency 35
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 70
Subprime Credit Population 47
Structural Poverty 42.3
Unemployment Rate 58
Poverty Rate 24
Income vs. State Median 58
Child Poverty Rate 28
Disability Rate 53
Transfer Income Dependency 32

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Carson City
Carson City, NV 61.7 Elevated —
Lyon County, NV 64.1 Elevated +2.4
Washoe County, NV 59.5 Elevated -2.2
Storey County, NV 58.2 Elevated -3.4
Douglas County, NV 39.9 Normal -21.7
Placer County, CA 37.4 Normal -24.3

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Carson City
Vermilion Parish, LA 61.7 Elevated +0.0
Sebastian County, AR 61.7 Elevated +0.0
Van Zandt County, TX 61.7 Elevated +0.1
McMinn County, TN 61.4 Elevated -0.2
Pickens County, SC 61.4 Elevated -0.3

Download Data

Export all distress indicators for Carson City as a CSV file.

Find Help in Carson City

Find an Attorney

State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral and Information Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral and Information Service 702-382-0504

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Carson City residents at no cost.

Nevada Legal Services 702-386-0404 (Las Vegas); 775-284-3491 (Reno)
Legal Aid Center of Southern Nevada 702-386-1070
Washoe Legal Services 775-329-2727
State Bar of Nevada Lawyer Referral Service 702-382-0504

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 Carson City, Nevada?

    Carson City has a County Distress Index score of 61.7 out of 100, placing it in the Elevated zone. It ranks 842nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 5th in Nevada out of 17 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Carson City?

    The primary driver of distress in Carson City is Housing Cost Burden, where the county scores 83.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Rent-Burdened (30%+), Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+), Mortgage-Burdened (30%+).

  • How does Carson City compare to neighboring counties?

    Carson City (61.7) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Lyon County, NV (64.1); Washoe County, NV (59.5); Storey County, NV (58.2).

  • 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 Elevated 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). Carson City's score of 61.7 sits in the Elevated zone (55–71).

  • What data sources power Carson City's CDI score?

    Carson City'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 Carson City?

    Carson City, Nevada has a population of approximately 58,036 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a mid county.