Harper County, Oklahoma

County Distress Index: Normal · 37.7 | 3,190 people · 74th most distressed in Oklahoma
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Harper County, OK falls within the normal range for household financial distress at 37.7 — 2328th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filings are moderately elevated. Within Oklahoma, it ranks 74th of 77 counties. Among its 6 neighboring counties, 4 show more distress.

The Numbers Behind the Score

The CDI measures five statistically derived factors of household financial distress, PCA-weighted. Harper County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 58.9 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 58.9
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 59
Consumer Credit Distress 49.0
Debt in Collections 47
Medical Debt 74
Auto Loan Delinquency 68
Credit Card Delinquency 9
Uninsured Rate 85
Subprime Credit Population 37
Economic Vitality 33.1
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 36
Rent-to-Income Ratio 18
Business Formation Rate 35
House Price Change (YoY) 62
Structural Poverty 32.2
Unemployment Rate 6
Poverty Rate 41
Income vs. State Median 25
Child Poverty Rate 44
Disability Rate 59
Transfer Income Dependency 23
Housing Cost Burden 12.0
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 5
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 5
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 52
Homeownership Rate 18

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Harper County
Harper County, OK 37.7 Normal —
Ellis County, OK 60.2 Elevated +22.5
Woods County, OK 50.4 Elevated +12.6
Woodward County, OK 48.3 Normal +10.6
Comanche County, KS 46.1 Normal +8.4
Clark County, KS 31.4 Healthy -6.4
Beaver County, OK 28.9 Healthy -8.9

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Harper County
Moore County, TN 37.7 Normal -0.1
Sitka City and Borough, AK 37.9 Normal +0.1
Archer County, TX 37.6 Normal -0.1
Tyler County, WV 37.6 Normal -0.2
Dawson County, MT 37.5 Normal -0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Harper County

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Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Oklahoma Bar Association Lawyer Referral 405-416-7000

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Legal aid organizations serving Harper County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oklahoma 1-888-534-5243

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Harper County, Oklahoma?

    Harper County has a County Distress Index score of 37.7 out of 100, placing it in the Normal zone. It ranks 2,328th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 74th in Oklahoma out of 77 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Harper County?

    The primary driver of distress in Harper County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 58.9 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Harper County compare to neighboring counties?

    Harper County (37.7) can be compared to its 6 neighboring counties: Ellis County, OK (60.2); Woods County, OK (50.4); Woodward County, OK (48.3).

  • 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 Normal 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). Harper County's score of 37.7 sits in the Normal zone (46–55).

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

    Harper 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 Harper County?

    Harper County, Oklahoma has a population of approximately 3,190 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.