Burke County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 17.6 | 2,134 people · 43rd most distressed in North Dakota
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Burke County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 17.6 — 3110th 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 43rd of 53 counties. Among its 5 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Burke County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 71.6 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 71.6
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 72
Economic Vitality 20.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 84
House Price Change (YoY) 19
Structural Poverty 16.7
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 13
Income vs. State Median 30
Child Poverty Rate 9
Disability Rate 33
Transfer Income Dependency 7
Consumer Credit Distress 12.8
Debt in Collections 7
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 24
Credit Card Delinquency 17
Uninsured Rate 11
Subprime Credit Population 10
Housing Cost Burden 9.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 6
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 5
Homeownership Rate 29

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Burke County
Burke County, ND 17.6 Healthy —
Williams County, ND 42.1 Normal +24.5
Mountrail County, ND 39.8 Normal +22.3
Ward County, ND 37.5 Normal +20.0
Divide County, ND 24.3 Healthy +6.7
Renville County, ND 16.4 Healthy -1.1

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Burke County
Spink County, SD 17.6 Healthy +0.0
Stillwater County, MT 17.4 Healthy -0.2
Campbell County, SD 17.4 Healthy -0.2
Cedar County, NE 17.3 Healthy -0.3
Hamilton County, NE 17.9 Healthy +0.4

Download Data

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

Find Help in Burke 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 Burke County residents at no cost.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

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

    Burke County has a County Distress Index score of 17.6 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,110th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 43rd in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Burke County?

    The primary driver of distress in Burke County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 71.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Burke County compare to neighboring counties?

    Burke County (17.6) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Williams County, ND (42.1); Mountrail County, ND (39.8); Ward County, ND (37.5).

  • 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). Burke County's score of 17.6 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Burke 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 Burke County?

    Burke County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 2,134 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.