Traill County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 20.0 | 7,908 people · 36th most distressed in North Dakota
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Traill County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 20.0 — 3072nd nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are below the national average. Within North Dakota, it ranks 36th 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. Traill County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 43.2 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 43.2
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 43
Housing Cost Burden 34.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 14
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 49
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 38
Homeownership Rate 49
Structural Poverty 14.8
Unemployment Rate 5
Poverty Rate 9
Income vs. State Median 24
Child Poverty Rate 5
Disability Rate 11
Transfer Income Dependency 24
Economic Vitality 12.9
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 45
House Price Change (YoY) 15
Consumer Credit Distress 12.4
Debt in Collections 5
Medical Debt 30
Auto Loan Delinquency 14
Credit Card Delinquency 5
Uninsured Rate 19
Subprime Credit Population 11

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Traill County
Traill County, ND 20.0 Healthy —
Polk County, MN 36.6 Normal +16.6
Grand Forks County, ND 35.7 Normal +15.6
Norman County, MN 35.1 Normal +15.1
Cass County, ND 33.7 Healthy +13.7
Steele County, ND 13.5 Healthy -6.5

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Traill County
Gove County, KS 19.9 Healthy -0.1
Hyde County, SD 20.2 Healthy +0.1
Towner County, ND 19.9 Healthy -0.1
Custer County, SD 19.9 Healthy -0.1
Dickey County, ND 19.8 Healthy -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Traill 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 Traill 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 Traill County, North Dakota?

    Traill County has a County Distress Index score of 20.0 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 3,072nd nationally out of 3,144 counties and 36th in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Traill County?

    The primary driver of distress in Traill County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 43.2 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Traill County compare to neighboring counties?

    Traill County (20.0) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Polk County, MN (36.6); Grand Forks County, ND (35.7); Norman County, MN (35.1).

  • 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). Traill County's score of 20.0 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Traill 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 Traill County?

    Traill County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 7,908 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.