Walsh County, North Dakota

County Distress Index: Healthy · 29.4 | 10,305 people · 21st most distressed in North Dakota
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Walsh County, ND ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 29.4 — 2789th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress, where debt and delinquency rates remain below the national norm. Within North Dakota, it ranks 21st of 53 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show less distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Walsh County's primary driver is Consumer Credit Distress at 37.6 — above the national median.

Consumer Credit Distress Primary driver 37.6
Debt in Collections 24
Medical Debt 58
Auto Loan Delinquency 43
Credit Card Delinquency 47
Uninsured Rate 45
Subprime Credit Population 23
Structural Poverty 26.8
Unemployment Rate 38
Poverty Rate 17
Income vs. State Median 28
Child Poverty Rate 18
Disability Rate 35
Transfer Income Dependency 26
Housing Cost Burden 25.2
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 22
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 29
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 18
Homeownership Rate 30
Economic Vitality 21.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 5
Rent-to-Income Ratio 5
Business Formation Rate 95
House Price Change (YoY) 8
Legal Distress 5.0
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 5

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Walsh County
Walsh County, ND 29.4 Healthy —
Grand Forks County, ND 35.7 Normal +6.3
Ramsey County, ND 31.6 Healthy +2.2
Marshall County, MN 19.8 Healthy -9.6
Nelson County, ND 19.2 Healthy -10.2
Pembina County, ND 16.9 Healthy -12.5
Cavalier County, ND 15.7 Healthy -13.8

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Walsh County
Lake County, SD 29.5 Healthy +0.0
Charlevoix County, MI 29.5 Healthy +0.0
Dodge County, MN 29.5 Healthy +0.1
Kodiak Island Borough, AK 29.3 Healthy -0.1
Juneau City and Borough, AK 29.5 Healthy +0.1

Download Data

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

Find Help in Walsh County

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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 Walsh 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 Walsh County, North Dakota?

    Walsh County has a County Distress Index score of 29.4 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,789th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 21st in North Dakota out of 53 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Walsh County?

    The primary driver of distress in Walsh County is Consumer Credit Distress, where the county scores 37.6 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Debt in Collections, Medical Debt, Auto Loan Delinquency.

  • How does Walsh County compare to neighboring counties?

    Walsh County (29.4) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Grand Forks County, ND (35.7); Ramsey County, ND (31.6); Marshall County, MN (19.8).

  • 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). Walsh County's score of 29.4 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Walsh 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 Walsh County?

    Walsh County, North Dakota has a population of approximately 10,305 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a small county.