Adams County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 30.1 | 2,163 people · 18th most distressed in North Dakota
American Default Research

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

Adams County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 30.1 — 2751st nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within North Dakota, it ranks 18th of 53 counties. Its score is in the middle of its 8 neighboring counties.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Adams County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.1 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.1
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 71
Structural Poverty 55.9
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 91
Child Poverty Rate 23
Disability Rate 52
Transfer Income Dependency 87
Housing Cost Burden 33.3
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 20
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 46
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 7
Homeownership Rate 53
Consumer Credit Distress 17.5
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 17
Uninsured Rate 50
Subprime Credit Population 19
Economic Vitality 16.4
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 13
Rent-to-Income Ratio 19
Business Formation Rate 20
House Price Change (YoY) 19

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Adams County
Adams County, ND 30.1 Healthy —
Sioux County, ND 50.1 Elevated +20.1
Corson County, SD 46.9 Normal +16.8
Grant County, ND 33.7 Healthy +3.6
Hettinger County, ND 31.6 Healthy +1.5
Perkins County, SD 23.4 Healthy -6.7
Slope County, ND 22.1 Healthy -8.0
Harding County, SD 18.3 Healthy -11.8
Bowman County, ND 15.9 Healthy -14.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Adams County
Bath County, VA 30.1 Healthy +0.0
Franklin County, IA 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Tucker County, WV 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Lane County, KS 30.0 Healthy -0.1
Cheyenne County, CO 29.9 Healthy -0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Adams County

Find an Attorney

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

State Bar Association of North Dakota Lawyer Referral Service 701-255-1404

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Adams County residents at no cost.

Legal Services of North Dakota 1-800-634-5263

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 North Dakota →

Continue Reading

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Adams County, North Dakota?

    Adams County has a County Distress Index score of 30.1 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,751st nationally out of 3,144 counties and 18th in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Adams County?

    The primary driver of distress in Adams County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.1 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Adams County compare to neighboring counties?

    Adams County (30.1) can be compared to its 8 neighboring counties: Sioux County, ND (50.1); Corson County, SD (46.9); Grant County, ND (33.7).

  • 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). Adams County's score of 30.1 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Adams 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 Adams County?

    Adams County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 2,163 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.