Gilliam County, Oregon

County Distress Index: Healthy · 32.9 | 2,026 people · 34th most distressed in Oregon
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Gilliam County, OR ranks among the least distressed counties in the country at 32.9 — 2590th nationally out of 3144 counties. The primary driver is Legal Distress, where bankruptcy filing rates are well above the national average. Within Oregon, it ranks 34th of 36 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. Gilliam County's primary driver is Legal Distress at 69.5 — above the national median.

Legal Distress Primary driver 69.5
Bankruptcy Filing Rate 70
Structural Poverty 46.2
Unemployment Rate 87
Poverty Rate 36
Income vs. State Median 32
Child Poverty Rate 36
Disability Rate 63
Transfer Income Dependency 40
Consumer Credit Distress 32.0
Debt in Collections 26
Medical Debt 7
Auto Loan Delinquency 30
Credit Card Delinquency 35
Uninsured Rate 27
Subprime Credit Population 55
Housing Cost Burden 21.8
Rent-Burdened (30%+) 9
Severely Rent-Burdened (50%+) 11
Mortgage-Burdened (30%+) 69
Homeownership Rate 44
Economic Vitality 15.0
Wage-to-Rent Ratio 6
Rent-to-Income Ratio 11
Business Formation Rate 12
House Price Change (YoY) 78

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

Neighbors and Peers

Neighboring Counties

CountyScoreZonevs. Gilliam County
Gilliam County, OR 32.9 Healthy —
Wasco County, OR 51.6 Elevated +18.7
Wheeler County, OR 42.5 Normal +9.6
Sherman County, OR 39.0 Normal +6.2
Klickitat County, WA 38.1 Normal +5.3
Morrow County, OR 32.7 Healthy -0.2

Population Peers

CountyScoreZonevs. Gilliam County
Power County, ID 32.8 Healthy -0.0
Somervell County, TX 32.8 Healthy -0.0
Stanley County, SD 32.8 Healthy -0.0
Powell County, MT 32.9 Healthy +0.0
Wibaux County, MT 33.1 Healthy +0.2

Download Data

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

Find Help in Gilliam County

Find an Attorney

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service offers a lawyer referral service for bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, and consumer rights.

Oregon State Bar — Lawyer Referral Service 503-684-3763 (Portland); 1-800-452-7636 (statewide)

Free Legal Aid

Legal aid organizations serving Gilliam County residents at no cost.

Legal Aid Services of Oregon 503-684-1032 (Portland); 1-800-684-1032 (statewide hotline)
Oregon Law Center 541-672-3429 (Roseburg); 541-485-1017 (Eugene)
Willamette Law Online — Oregon Foreclosure Avoidance Project 503-370-6051

American Default Research does not endorse, rate, or rank any provider. Verify attorney credentials with your state bar.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is the distress score for Gilliam County, Oregon?

    Gilliam County has a County Distress Index score of 32.9 out of 100, placing it in the Healthy zone. It ranks 2,590th nationally out of 3,144 counties and 34th in Oregon out of 36 counties.

  • What drives financial distress in Gilliam County?

    The primary driver of distress in Gilliam County is Legal Distress, where the county scores 69.5 out of 100. This domain is measured by indicators including Bankruptcy Filing Rate.

  • How does Gilliam County compare to neighboring counties?

    Gilliam County (32.9) can be compared to its 5 neighboring counties: Wasco County, OR (51.6); Wheeler County, OR (42.5); Sherman County, OR (39.0).

  • 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). Gilliam County's score of 32.9 sits in the Healthy zone (below 46).

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

    Gilliam 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 Gilliam County?

    Gilliam County, Oregon has a population of approximately 2,026 (2023 Census estimate), classified as a tiny county.